Adel Boubina: Al-Diriyah will be the Saudi Pro League’s ‘dark horse’

Al-Diriyah striker Adel Boubina says the team’s disallowed third goal against Al-Fateh was “100%” valid after his side won 2-1 in the sixth round of the Saudi Pro League.

The Algerian forward questioned the decision to rule out the goal after the referee had initially allowed the attack to continue.

“After we scored, the referee consulted his assistant and then decided to cancel the goal. I do not know why,” Boubina told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“We are not playing in a Ramadan tournament. The referee allowed us to complete the attack, and after we scored, he disallowed it. In the end, praise be to God that we secured three valuable points.”

Boubina said the result mattered more than the debate over whether Al-Diriyah deserved to win.

“The important thing is that we took the three points, regardless of anyone saying that we deserved the victory or that we did not,” he added.

The striker also said Al-Diriyah were determined to establish themselves among the leading clubs in the competition.

“We will show everyone that Al-Diriyah deserves a place among the big teams in the matches to come,” he said.

Boubina believes the squad’s unity can help the club make further progress, despite the number of new players in the team.

“From the first day I arrived at Al-Diriyah, I have felt that the team is like one family and that it has a strong collective spirit,” he said.

“Although the team includes a group of new players, we will become stronger as we play more matches together in the coming period. I assure everyone that Al-Diriyah will be the dark horse of the Saudi Pro League.”