Ivan Toney is facing a potential suspension after verbally abusing American referee Ismail Elfath during Al-Ahli's 3-2 defeat to Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Roshn League on Tuesday. The incident erupted at full-time when the English striker protested that the referee had ended the match before the allocated added time had elapsed at the Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam.
Toney marched directly toward Elfath and confronted him on the pitch, captured on camera saying: "Are you stupid?" The forward continued his verbal assault until teammate Mohamed Sulaiman Bakr intervened and physically dragged him away, recognizing the danger of further sanctions from the official. The incident marked a flash point in what was already a frustrating afternoon for the England international.
Toney's Brace Not Enough for Al-Ahli
Despite scoring both of Al-Ahli's goals, Toney could not prevent his side from slipping to their third defeat of the Saudi Roshn League season. The loss leaves Al-Ahli in a precarious position in the title race, while Al-Qadsiah claimed all three points in the sixth round encounter. Toney's visible frustration stemmed from the sense that his team had been denied crucial minutes that could have changed the outcome.
Saudi Arabia's football governing body will now review footage of the exchange and determine whether disciplinary action is warranted. Disciplinary records show that verbal abuse directed at match officials in the Saudi Roshn League typically results in multi-match bans ranging from one to three games, depending on severity. Toney's status for Al-Ahli's upcoming fixtures hangs in the balance as the investigation proceeds.
