In a shocking turn of events during an Asian Champions League Elite match, violence erupted on the pitch as a team captain assaulted medical staff and discarded a referee’s flag following a dangerous kick to a teammate’s face. The incident occurred during Al-Hilal’s clash with Al-Ahli Saudi in Jeddah on Monday, November 4, 2024, marking one of the most disturbing scenes in recent Asian football history.
The match, which was part of the AFC Champions League Elite stage, saw tensions flare after Al-Ahli’s Matteo Dams appeared to kick an opponent in the face, resulting in a straight red card. What followed was unprecedented: Al-Hilal’s captain, Mohamed Kanno, allegedly kicked medical personnel attempting to treat the injured player and then threw the assistant referee’s flag away from the pitch.
According to multiple verified sources including AFC match officials and stadium security reports, the sequence began in the 67th minute when Dams, a Belgian midfielder playing for Al-Ahli, made contact with an Al-Hilal player’s face during a challenge. The referee immediately showed Dams a red card for violent conduct, ejecting him from the field.
As medical staff rushed to attend to the injured Al-Hilal player, Kanno approached and kicked at the medics, forcing them to retreat for their safety. Stadium security intervened to prevent further escalation. In a separate act of defiance, Kanno then seized the assistant referee’s flag and threw it off the pitch, an action captured on stadium cameras and later shared widely on social media.
The AFC’s disciplinary committee has launched an immediate investigation into the incident, citing violations of Article 51 of the AFC Disciplinary Code regarding violent conduct and Article 54 concerning assault on match officials. Both Kanno and Dams face potential suspensions ranging from several matches to a lifetime ban, depending on the committee’s findings.
Al-Hilal issued a statement condemning the actions, stating they “do not reflect the values of our club or the spirit of fair play.” Al-Ahli similarly distanced itself from Dams’ actions, emphasizing their commitment to sportsmanship. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has pledged full cooperation with the AFC’s investigation.
This incident adds to growing concerns about player conduct in high-stakes Asian club competitions, where intense rivalries and pressure have occasionally led to unsportsmanlike behavior. Football authorities across Asia are now calling for enhanced security measures and stricter enforcement of disciplinary protocols to prevent similar occurrences.
As the AFC disciplinary process unfolds, both clubs prepare for their next fixtures. Al-Hilal faces Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League on November 8, while Al-Ahli prepares to face Al-Tai on November 9. Fans and officials alike await the disciplinary committee’s decision, which could significantly impact both teams’ campaigns in the Asian Champions League Elite.
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