Al-Nassr is seeking to reduce Jhon Duran’s suspension for his red card against Al-Ettifaq by presenting a dossier of errors made by the referee to the Saudi Football Federation. Duran, who has been in fine form since his move from Aston Villa, was sent off in the 90th minute for an incident with Abdulelah Al-Malki. The club has contested the referee’s decisions, including claims of offside for Al-Ettifaq’s first goal and a possible penalty for a foul on Abdulmajeed Al-Sulayhem. They believe that Duran’s behavior did not warrant a red card and are hoping to have his suspension reduced before their next game against Al-Wehda.
The charge against Duran is for aggressive, obscene, or insulting words or gestures, which carries a two-match suspension and a fine. Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his displeasure with the decision by kicking the ball away as Duran left the field. The referee, Kirill Levnikov, has a history of issuing cards in his matches and has recently sent off players in the Saudi top flight.
Duran’s red card is not the first controversial decision he has faced, as he was previously sent off while playing for Aston Villa. Despite appeals, the decision was upheld, leading to a three-match ban for the young striker. Villa manager Emery was critical of the decision, arguing that it was too harsh for the offense committed.
Al-Nassr’s recent defeat has impacted their position in the league table, leaving them trailing behind the leaders. The team had been on a good run of form before the loss and will be looking to bounce back in their upcoming matches. Their opponents, Al-Wehda, are currently at the bottom of the table and will be aiming to improve their position in the league standings.