GOAL compared debate over Cristiano Ronaldo's goal in Al-Nassr's 3-1 win over Al-Fayha on 23 October with a Saudi League Association decision from 2024. The comparison centred on whether a league goal could later be reassigned.
Debate from the Al-Nassr match
Al-Nassr beat Al-Fayha 3-1 on Friday 23 October at the Al-Majmaah Sports City Stadium in the eleventh round of the Roshn League. Ronaldo scored Al-Nassr's second goal in the 49th minute, heading home a free-kick delivery from Joao Felix.
Some social media users reckoned Ronaldo's goal should go down as an own goal from Al-Fayha defender Andre Geraldes rather than to Ronaldo.
The similar case cited by Al-Yaum
Saudi newspaper Al-Yaum dug up a near-identical case from 2024-2025 involving Aleksandar Mitrovic, then Al-Hilal's striker.
On 14 September 2024, Al-Hilal beat Al-Riyadh 3-0 at the Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Stadium in the Saudi capital, in the third round of the Roshn League.
How GOAL described that match
GOAL said the 14 September 2024 match featured a Mitrovic brace and a goal from Salem Al-Dawsari.
Saudi League Association decision
On 30 September 2024, the Saudi League Association announced that Al-Hilal's second goal from the 14 September 2024 match would be credited to Al-Riyadh defender Yoann Barbet instead of Mitrovic.
The Saudi League Association said the technical reports and television replay showed the ball had struck the Al-Riyadh defender's body before crossing the line. Mitrovic's goal was taken off him 16 days after the match.