MUSCAT – In the statement, the club’s Board of Directors said it was deeply concerned about what it described as several erroneous and influential refereeing decisions that directly affected the course and outcome of the match. Al Wahda stated that the officiating crew committed clear mistakes, most notably failing to send off the Fanja goalkeeper after he handled the ball outside the penalty area to stop a clear goal-scoring opportunity, in what the club said was a direct violation of FIFA’s laws of the game.

The statement also pointed to the referee’s failure to penalise a number of violent tackles, which the club said endangered the safety of its players and negatively affected both the technical and disciplinary aspects of the match.

Stressing its commitment to fairness, equal opportunity, player safety, and the integrity of competition, Al Wahda confirmed that it has submitted an official protest to the Referees Committee of the Oman Football Association. The club called for a comprehensive review of the match footage and the implementation of appropriate legal measures regarding the refereeing errors identified. It also urged the appointment of highly qualified and experienced refereeing teams to officiate sensitive and decisive matches in domestic competitions.

Al Wahda Sports Club concluded by affirming that it will take all legal steps available to protect its legitimate rights in accordance with applicable regulations, while reiterating its confidence in the Oman Football Association’s efforts to develop the refereeing system and enhance the standard of local football competitions.