Fabinho Sees Red in Controversial Boxing Day Clash in Saudi Pro League

In a Boxing Day showdown between Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, Liverpool icon Fabinho found himself handed a red card after VAR intervention. The incident occurred at Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium, where Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr emerged as decisive 5-2 victors. The closely contested game took a turn around the hour mark when Fabinho was accused of striking Otavio, Ronaldo’s teammate.

Initially, the on-field referee took no action, but a VAR review prompted a reconsideration, leading to Fabinho’s expulsion from the match. Surprising to some, the red card marked an unusual occurrence for Fabinho, who had not experienced a sending-off in his years with Liverpool. Fans took to social media to express varying opinions on the decision, with some deeming it a “soft red” and questioning the consistency of VAR across different leagues.

The turning point came with Ronaldo converting the subsequent penalty, securing his second goal from the spot and putting Al-Nassr in a 3-2 lead. The game’s narrative was further shaped by another Liverpool legend, Sadio Mane, who netted a late brace, sealing Al-Nassr’s victory with a final scoreline of 5-2. The win allowed Al-Nassr to narrow the gap at the top of the Saudi Pro League, with leaders Al-Hilal feeling the pressure from the resurgent side.