A major scandal has erupted in the Saudi Pro League following Al-Ahli’s 1-1 draw against Al-Fayha on April 8, 2026. England international Ivan Toney and his teammates have sparked a firestorm of “cheating” and “rigging” allegations, claiming that league officials are actively working to ensure Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr win the title.
The controversy has moved beyond simple frustration over bad calls, evolving into specific accusations of match manipulation.
1. The “Shocking” Remark from Referees
The most explosive claim comes from Toney himself, who revealed a bizarre exchange that occurred during a VAR check.
- The Allegation: Toney claims the referee or a fourth official told the Al-Ahli players to “forget about the league and focus on the AFC Champions League.”
- The Implication: Toney and Al-Ahli fans interpreted this as a blatant admission that the title winner (Al-Nassr) has already been decided by the league’s hierarchy.
- Toney’s Response: “How does a referee say something like that? His head is somewhere else. I hope it was recorded and gets released.”
2. The “Handball” Controversy
During the match, Al-Ahli was denied three separate penalty appeals, including two potential handballs by defender Chris Smalling.
- Social Media Blast: Toney took to Instagram immediately after the game, posting clips of the incidents with captions like “No penalty they say” and “Again no penalty…”
- Favoritism Claims: Toney explicitly stated that these decisions were designed to benefit “the team we’re chasing”—a direct reference to Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.
3. Allegations Against Ronaldo and Al-Nassr
While Ronaldo was not on the pitch during this specific match, he has been “indirectly dragged” into the center of the storm.
- “Rigged for Ronaldo”: Since the draw prevented Al-Ahli from closing the gap on Al-Nassr, fans and pundits have flooded social media with the hashtag #RiggedForRonaldo.
- Match-Fixing Claims: The Daily Mail and other outlets reported on Thursday, April 9, that the Al-Ahli crisis has sparked formal concerns regarding match manipulation to secure the Roshen Professional League title for Al-Nassr.
- Official Statement: Al-Ahli released a blistering statement demanding access to the VAR audio recordings and communications between the referees and players.
The Title Race Impact (As of April 10, 2026)
The officiating errors have significantly altered the standings at a crucial stage of the season.
| Club | Points | Gap to 1st |
| Al-Nassr (Ronaldo) | 70 | — |
| Al-Hilal | 68 | -2 |
| Al-Ahli (Toney) | 66 | -4 |
Golden Boot Race Friction
The tension is compounded by the battle for the Golden Boot. Despite the “rigging” claims, Ivan Toney currently leads the league with 27 goals, four ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo (23 goals). Toney’s teammates, including Galeno, have publicly stated that they feel the league “wants to give the trophy” to Ronaldo despite Toney’s superior goal-scoring form this season.