Danilo Pereira criticises ‘aggressive’ treatment of Al-Ittihad players after Al-Hilal defeat

Danilo Pereira has criticised the conduct of match organisers after Al-Ittihad players were pushed during their attempts to speak to the referee following Sunday’s 3-2 defeat by Al-Hilal.

Pereira said members of the organising team intervened at the end of the Saudi league match and behaved in a way he considered unacceptable.

“We were talking to the referee, but some of the organisers intervened and started pushing us,” the Portuguese defender told Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiya. “I do not think that is part of their job. One of them was pushing everyone and put his hand on the faces of some players. That is not good.”

Pereira insisted the players had not approached the referee to insult or intimidate him.

“This is not the image we want to show to the people watching the match,” he said. “We did not go to insult or offend the referee. We only wanted to speak to him.”

He added: “The job of the organisers is to protect everyone inside the pitch, not only the referee. What happened was aggressive behaviour towards us, and that is unacceptable.

“In any case, it is over now and I have nothing more to add.”

The defeat ended Al-Ittihad’s unbeaten start to the season. The Jeddah side had been the only team in the Saudi league yet to lose, meaning every club in the competition has now suffered at least one defeat.

Pereira said Al-Ittihad had performed well despite the result and rejected the suggestion that physical fatigue had been responsible.

“We were present in the game and produced a good performance,” he said. “I think it was a great match from both teams and enjoyable for the fans.”

“I do not think the physical aspect was the reason. We made some mistakes and, in matches like this, when you make too many errors, you pay the price and lose.”

Al-Ittihad fought to recover after falling behind but could not secure a point.

“We fought hard and tried to come back and equalise, but it was not our day,” Pereira said. “We made too many mistakes. I am the first to take responsibility, followed by the team. I think we played well, but unfortunately we lost.”

Al-Hilal’s victory in the eighth round lifted them back to the top of the Saudi league with 21 points, two ahead of Al-Qadsiah and Al-Nassr.

Al-Ittihad remain fourth on 17 points.

Pereira also thanked the club’s supporters for travelling in large numbers and backing the team.

“I want to thank them for coming in such numbers and supporting us,” he said. “We wanted to win and give them the victory, but we were unable to do so. I thank them again, and I hope they give us more strength in our next match.”