Saudi Pro League explains how Ronaldo’s disputed goal was officially awarded

The Saudi Pro League has clarified how goals are validated after Cristiano Ronaldo’s strike for Al Nassr against Al Faisaly sparked debate.

Al Nassr secured a 3-1 victory over Al Faisaly in matchweek 11 of the Saudi Pro League, with one of their goals credited by several international websites to Al Faisaly player Andre Giraud as an own goal.

However, a source from the Saudi Pro League said the goal had been awarded to Ronaldo by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s refereeing committee.

“Are we counting Al Nassr’s own goal in Ronaldo’s favour? The final decision on who scored is made by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s main refereeing committee, not by international websites or applications,” the source told Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah.

“The referee’s report after the match is the official document. If there is a discrepancy with the referee’s report, the matter is referred for correction, and the refereeing committee makes the decision.”

The match report, completed by referee Abdullah Al-Owaidan, credited the goal to the Portugal international. That took Ronaldo’s career tally to 982 goals.

He is now 18 goals away from reaching 1,000 for his career.

The result moved Al Nassr to 22 points and third place in the Saudi Pro League, pending the outcome of the top-of-the-table meeting between Al Qadsiah and Al Hilal.