Cristiano Ronaldo dragged into Saudi league cheating claims as England star launches scathing attack

Ed Griffiths
Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:44:22 +0000

Cristiano Ronaldo has been dragged into Saudi league cheating claims as Ivan Toney launched a furious attack on officiating following Al-Ahli's frustrating 1-1 draw against Al-Fayha on Wednesday evening.

The former Brentford striker, who netted his 27th league goal of the campaign, was incensed after his side saw three penalty appeals dismissed by both the on-field referee and VAR.

Toney fumed in his post-match interview: "The big talking point was the two penalties. It's clear as day. I don't know what more you want him to do? Pick the ball up with two hands, are you going to give a penalty then or not?"

The England international made the extraordinary claim that match officials advised Al-Ahli players to concentrate on other competitions during the game.

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Toney alleged: "When we tried to talk to the referee, he told us to 'focus on the AFC [Champions League],' How can the referee say this?"

Toney subsequently intensified his criticism through social media, sharing footage of the three contentious incidents on Instagram.

He wrote: "It's actually crazy how you can miss things like this in crucial moments or choose to turn a blind eye. And without saying too much that may get me in trouble, it's clear what's being influenced here!!!"

The striker made a thinly veiled reference to Ronaldo's league-leading Al-Nassr when questioned about who might benefit from such decisions.

"We know who. Who are we chasing?" Toney responded with a smirk.

He further alleged that the referee had acknowledged one of the penalty claims was legitimate during stoppage time, adding sarcastically: "Like that's going to help."

The 29-year-old concluded his social media tirade by suggesting he could recruit someone from his local area with no football knowledge who would officiate more competently.

Toney's teammate Galeno echoed the allegations in even more direct terms, accusing league authorities of attempting to manipulate the title race.

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The Brazilian winger posted on social media: "Hand over the trophy, that's what they want, they want to knock us out of the championship by any means necessary, they want to hand the trophy to one person, a total lack of respect for our club."

Former Premier League winner Riyad Mahrez, who completed the full match alongside Toney, also signalled his support by sharing Al-Ahli's official statement.

The club itself issued a strongly worded response expressing "deep dissatisfaction" with the officiating errors and their impact on the title race.

Al-Ahli formally requested access to all recordings and communications between match officials and VAR, demanding clear explanations for each disputed decision.

The result leaves Al-Ahli sitting third in the standings, four points adrift of Al-Nassr with the leaders also holding a match in hand.

Should Ronaldo's side secure the championship, it would represent his first league triumph since arriving in Saudi Arabia over three years ago.

Al-Hilal currently occupy second position, two points behind Al-Nassr, with just seven fixtures remaining in the campaign.

Toney's outburst may carry significant consequences, however, with legal experts warning he could face severe punishment, as Article 5/50 of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's rules states that Toney could receive a suspension of up to 12 months and a fine of up to £60,000.