Mohammad Al-Munajjim, the chairman of the youth football club, has publicly criticized the officiating during his team's recent semi-final match against Al-Ittihad in the King's Cup, describing the loss as unacceptable and unmerited.

In statements made following the match, Al-Munajjim conveyed his readiness to accept a loss if his team performed poorly, but stated that the nature of this defeat was particularly painful.

He highlighted the difficulty of competing against what he referred to as '15 players.'

Al-Munajjim pointed out that the refereeing committee responded to their request for elite referees, indicating that only after April 4 or 5 would such referees be available due to prior commitments.

He has communicated directly with the head of the refereeing committee in the Saudi Football Federation regarding this issue.

Additionally, he noted a lack of a complete record detailing the officiating performance during the match.

Although the name of the referee involved circulated, and criticisms of their decision-making emerged, it did not alter the decision of the committee regarding his assignment, leading to significant and discussable errors, according to experts in the field.

Al-Munajjim emphasized that the youth club cannot afford such mistakes, especially in light of the club's ongoing struggles.

He previously assured the head of the refereeing committee that his team should not fear any opponents unless faced with subpar officiating.

He remarked that, unlike other clubs with greater resources and capabilities, his team is particularly vulnerable to these challenges.

He reiterated that winning the King's Cup was not only an ambition but a significant objective for the club, lamenting that the team did not avoid the unfortunate outcome they had dreaded, resulting in their exit from the competition.