A snap between Saudi al-hilal defender Ali balehi and his teammate, Brazilian full-back Renan Lodi, after the al-hilal match against Ahly Jeddah at Jawhara Stadium sparked controversy on social media platforms on Tuesday.
Footage filmed by fans in the stadium with their phones showed Lodi pulling a shawl that was with the Balehi before the second turned around and hit him in the face.
It was not clear whether Balehi was actually angry or whether it was in the context of an exaggerated joke with his teammate.
Another clip showed the Brazilian full-back later hugging and taking a photo with him.
Some of X’s former Twitter users demanded that the crescent defender be punished for acting with Lodi.
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
البليهي رجع واعتذر من لودي وتصور معه https://t.co/IBiHVqoaIf pic.twitter.com/hZ90kIIKEF
— نواف الآسيوي 🇸🇦 (@football_ll55) May 7, 2024
Al-Hilal turned the tables on his civil rival, who did not maintain his lead. Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic scored an equaliser in the 52nd minute, and Brazilian Malcom Oliviera added a winning goal to the al-hilal in the 89th minute.
اتمنى معاقبة البليهي باقصى سرعة
ليش يضربه هالضربة الخفيفة؟pic.twitter.com/drKngjEJgu
— تـ!رقو (@64rgo) May 7, 2024
He reiterated his win over Al Ahly back and forth this season, and also dedicated the crescent held to Al Ahly in the last 5 with four wins for a single draw.
Al-Ahly last won 1/2 in August 2020.
Al-Hilal secured his 23rd consecutive victory of the season to take his tally to 86 points and become one point away to officially be crowned Saudi League title
