Pereira red card explained after Al-Ittihad held by Al-Kholood

Saeed Al-Kathiri says VAR was right to intervene before Pereira was sent off in Al-Ittihad’s 1-1 draw with Al-Kholood in the opening round of the Roshn Saudi League.

The Al-Ittihad midfielder was dismissed in the second half after the referee reviewed the incident on the advice of the video assistant referee. The decision left Al-Ittihad with 10 players for more than 30 minutes and contributed to a frustrating start to their league campaign.

The match, played on Saturday, had been closely contested before the controversial moment. Al-Ittihad were unable to find a winning goal after Pereira’s dismissal and eventually had to settle for a point against Al-Kholood.

Pereira’s red card came in the 57th minute. The referee initially assessed the challenge before VAR became involved and recommended an on-field review. After looking at the footage, the referee confirmed the decision to send off the Al-Ittihad player.

The incident quickly became the main talking point among supporters and viewers, largely because of the significance of the call and its immediate effect on the match. Al-Ittihad were forced to play the remainder of the contest with a numerical disadvantage at a stage when the result was still in the balance.

However, former refereeing expert Saeed Al-Kathiri backed the decision and said the VAR review had been appropriate. He argued that the challenge met the criteria for a dismissal rather than a lesser disciplinary punishment.

According to Al-Kathiri, Pereira used excessive force against an Al-Kholood player. He classified the challenge as “violent play”, a category of offence that warrants a red card under the laws of the game.

Al-Kathiri’s assessment effectively ended the debate over whether the dismissal was justified, with the expert concluding that the referee had made the correct call after reviewing the incident.

The sending-off created an additional problem for Al-Ittihad during their first Roshn Saudi League fixture. Having to continue with only 10 players meant they could not regain control of the match, and the side ultimately dropped two points after being held to a 1-1 draw.

The result represented a disappointing opening for Al-Ittihad, who had to settle for a share of the points despite the intensity of the contest. Al-Kholood, meanwhile, secured a draw in a match dominated by the decisive refereeing moment in the second half.

The opening round also saw Al-Nassr begin their bid to defend the title with a convincing 3-0 victory over Al-Fateh.