Controversy briefly flared in the Gulf 27 final, but a refereeing expert has now offered a clear explanation for the decision that shaped the moment. The UAE were initially awarded a penalty against Saudi Arabia, only for the call to be reversed after a VAR review at Al-Inmaa Stadium in Jeddah.
The key moment in the first half
The incident came in the 38th minute, when the referee pointed to the spot after ruling that Hassan Tambakti had fouled Bruno Oliveira inside the box. It looked like a major turning point in the final, with the UAE appearing to have won a potentially decisive opportunity from 12 yards.
But the decision did not stand for long. Following a review by the VAR team, the referee was sent to the monitor and ultimately overturned the penalty. The call immediately sparked debate among supporters and observers, with both sides eager to understand what the officials had seen.
Expert view backs the reversal
Egyptian refereeing expert Mohamed Kamal Risha supported the decision to cancel the spot-kick, saying there was no foul on the UAE player. His explanation helped settle the argument around the incident and clarified why the referee changed his mind after reviewing the footage.
“In the 38th minute Oliveira, the UAE forward, took advantage of the position of Tambakti’s foot in front of him, and fell without there being any contact that warranted the award of a penalty kick,” Risha told Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiah.
That interpretation places the emphasis on simulation rather than contact. In Risha’s view, the Saudi defender’s positioning alone did not amount to a foul, and the original penalty call was not supported by the evidence shown on VAR.
Why VAR made the difference
VAR continues to be one of football’s most debated tools, especially in high-pressure finals where a single call can shift the momentum of a match. In this case, the technology served its purpose by giving the referee a second look at a decisive moment and preventing a potentially incorrect penalty from standing.
Risha praised the process, adding that the VAR intervention was effective in correcting the on-field decision. He said the referee was right to revisit the incident on the screen and overturn the original ruling after seeing the full picture.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Saudi Arabia vs UAE |
| Tournament | Arabian Gulf Cup, Gulf 27 Final |
| Venue | Al-Inmaa Stadium, Jeddah |
| Minute of incident | 38th minute |
| Initial decision | Penalty to UAE |
| Final decision | Penalty overturned after VAR review |
What the ruling means for the final
Moments like these often define finals, not only because of the possible scoreline impact, but because they shape the emotional rhythm of the contest. A penalty awarded and then removed can swing belief, pressure, and momentum in an instant.
For the UAE, the overturned decision meant a missed chance to capitalize on a key attacking moment. For Saudi Arabia, it was a major reprieve in a high-stakes title match in front of home support.
Debate, pressure, and precision
Even though the explanation now appears straightforward, the incident will likely remain part of the post-match conversation. Refereeing decisions in finals are always scrutinized closely, and this one had the added tension of being changed after video review.
As one match official was effectively corrected by the technology, the broader message was familiar: in modern football, the final call often belongs to the evidence on screen. Whether fans agree or disagree, the ruling in Jeddah became another reminder of how quickly VAR can alter the story of a final.
With the controversy settled by an expert assessment, attention can now return to the football itself. But the cancelled penalty will be remembered as one of the defining flashpoints of Gulf 27.
