Ivan Toney denied historic hat-trick chance after Al Ahli VAR penalty controversy

Al Ahli striker Ivan Toney was denied the opportunity to score a historic hat-trick after a refereeing error in his side’s 3-1 victory over Al Hazem in the Roshn Saudi League.

Al Ahli secured the win at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah on Friday during the seventh round of the competition, with Toney making a significant contribution by scoring twice.

The England international converted one penalty that he had won himself, but also missed another spot-kick after being fouled in an incident that led to the award.

However, refereeing analyst Mohamed Kamal Reesha said Toney should have been awarded a third penalty with about 10 minutes of the match remaining.

“There was a penalty for Al Ahli that was not awarded in the 81st minute,” Reesha told Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiah.

He added: “Ivan Toney was pulled by Mory Konate, the Al Hazem player. The referee’s decision to go to the VAR screen for a review and then return without awarding the penalty was incorrect.”

Toney went down in the penalty area and appealed for a spot-kick, but the referee did not point to the spot after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor.

Had the penalty been given, Toney would have become the player to win three penalties in the same match, a rare achievement in football. He was also expected to take the kick himself.

If he had converted it, Toney would have completed his second hat-trick in the opening seven rounds of the Roshn Saudi League. That would also have been an exceptional record.

A third goal would have taken the striker’s tally to 11 in his first seven league matches. That would have surpassed the best previous total for a player after seven rounds, held by former Al Ahli striker Omar Al Somah, who scored 10 in the 2016-17 season.

Despite missing out on the chance, Toney remains the leading scorer in the Saudi league this season. He has scored 10 goals after seven rounds and leads the nearest challenger by six goals.

His current tally has already matched Al Somah’s league record for the highest number of goals after seven rounds since the 2009-10 season. Al Somah reached 10 goals for Al Ahli during the 2016-17 campaign.