Saudi League Fixed? Toney's Statement Hinting at Ronaldo (Terjemahan langsung: Tuding Liga Arab Saudi Diatur, Pernyataan Toney Mengarah ke Ronaldo?)

The race for the Saudi Pro League 2025/2026 Season title is heating up. It's not just the competition on the League Table, but also off-field issues. The name Cristiano Ronaldo has been dragged into the growing controversy.

Al-Ahli's 1-1 Draw against Al-Fayha on Wednesday, April 8th, was the trigger. In that match, Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney scored his 27th goal of the season.

However, he felt his team was disadvantaged because they weren't awarded three penalties he considered clear.

After the match, Toney vented his frustration and questioned the referee's attitude, especially during this crucial stage of the season.

"When we tried to talk to the referee, he told us to focus on the AFC. That doesn't make sense," said Toney.

He felt the referee's decisions changed as the competition entered its critical phase.

"Throughout the season, those would usually be given as penalties, but now at the important moment, they're not," he said.

When asked who benefits, Toney gave a sarcastic answer.

"We all know who. Who are we chasing?"

That statement sparked speculation pointing towards Al-Nassr. The team, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, currently leads the table. 

They are four points ahead of Al-Ahli and two points clear of Al-Hilal, having played one more game.

With seven matches remaining, the chance for the Championship is still open. However, accusations of "influence" have raised the competition's tension.

Ronaldo is still chasing his first league trophy since joining Al-Nassr three and a half years ago, Putting an even bigger spotlight on him.

Toney continued his criticism on social media, highlighting referee decisions he found strange.

"Hard to believe something like this could be missed, or perhaps intentionally ignored. It feels like there's something behind this," he wrote.

He again mentioned the referee's communication during the VAR check.

"The referee actually told us to focus on another competition while the VAR was being checked. That's weird. Even after the game, he said it was a penalty, but it was too late," added Toney.

His teammate, Galeno, delivered sharper criticism.

"In that case, just hand over the trophy now. It feels like someone wants to eliminate us for the sake of one person. This doesn't respect our club," wrote Galeno.

Al-Ahli management also reacted. They deemed the referee's decisions unacceptable and demanded an official explanation, including transparency regarding the communication BETWEEN the referee and VAR.

This situation makes the race for the Saudi Arabian League title not just about results on the pitch, but also about trust in the competition's integrity. With the points gap narrow, every decision is now under scrutiny.

Is this just frustration, or is there something else behind it?