Pedro Rebocho (foto: Instagram)
Pedro Rebocho’s costly late mistake in Al Khaleeji’s defeat to Al Hilal has triggered major controversy and online conspiracy theories in the Saudi title race.
Al Hilal remained in the fight for the Saudi Pro League title after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Al Khaleeji, but the match ended with heavy controversy.
The result itself was overshadowed by an unusual mistake from Portuguese defender Pedro Rebocho, which immediately became the main topic of discussion across social media.
With the score tied at 1-1 in the 79th minute, Rebocho attempted to pass the ball back toward his goalkeeper. Instead, he completely missed his target and delivered the ball directly to Sultan Mandash.
The Al Hilal attacker accepted the unexpected gift and scored easily to secure the final 2-1 victory.
The mistake looked so unusual that many supporters online quickly began questioning whether it was simply an unfortunate error.
Some fans openly suggested suspicious circumstances, while conspiracy theories spread rapidly, claiming that Al Hilal had been “given” the victory.
There is no evidence supporting those accusations, but the incident has increased tensions around one of the closest title races in recent Saudi football history.
With three rounds left to play, Al Nassr, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, sit at the top of the table with 79 points. Al Hilal remain only two points behind.
That means the upcoming direct clash between the two rivals, scheduled for May 12, could decide the championship.
The controversy has also revived criticism aimed at Al Hilal, a club that has previously faced accusations from rival supporters regarding allegedly controversial refereeing decisions.
Adding even more fuel to the online debate was the fact that Pedro Rebocho has publicly declared himself a fan of Lionel Messi, the long-time rival of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The situation has now placed enormous attention on the upcoming title showdown, with emotions and suspicion already running high before the decisive final weeks of the season.