Mohamed Ali Maalej launched a strong criticism of referee Mohamed Al-Houni after Al-Ittihad Al-Askari were beaten by Al-Ahly Benghazi in the opening round of the Libyan Premier League championship stage.
Al-Ahly Benghazi secured a 2-1 victory on Thursday at Al-Wadi Al-Kabir Stadium to begin their title-winning campaign with three points under Moroccan coach Reda Hakam.
The winning side took control through goals from Gambian player Gabriel Sylla and Hamam Qrimbil, while veteran striker Saleh Al-Taher scored the only goal for Al-Ittihad Al-Askari.
Despite the defeat, Maalej insisted his side produced a competitive display and believed they deserved more from the encounter.
Speaking to the winwin platform after the match, the Tunisian coach said his players had shown commitment and discipline throughout the contest.
However, much of his post-match reaction focused on the performance of referee Mohamed Al-Houni, whom he accused of making inconsistent decisions during the game.
Maalej questions refereeing standards
Maalej suggested the referee had previous controversial moments involving his club and argued that important calls had again gone against his side.
“The referee of our match against Al-Ahly Benghazi, Mohamed Al-Houni, has a history with the club. During our last match against Al-Sadaqa in the group stage, he overlooked awarding us a clear penalty kick. In our match today, he was awarding us far-flung fouls, but not close ones. Unfortunately, the referee was not up to the high standard required for a match in the championship stage.”
The Al-Ittihad coach continued his criticism by questioning the overall refereeing quality in decisive league matches.
“The matches in the Libyan league championship stage are tough matches that need competent referees, not referees who steal the sweat of the players and the effort of the management, technical and administrative staff. Where is the integrity and justice? We are waiting for the referees to do us justice in our matches in the Libyan league.”
His comments are likely to intensify debate surrounding officiating standards during the crucial title phase of the Libyan Premier League season.
Strong start for Al-Ahly Benghazi
For Al-Ahly Benghazi, the victory represented an encouraging opening to the championship stage under coach Reda Hakam, whose side demonstrated efficiency in front of goal despite pressure from their opponents.
The result places Al-Ahly in a strong early position as teams compete for the league title in one of the most demanding periods of the domestic season.
Meanwhile, Maalej’s reaction underlined the growing tension and pressure surrounding the competition, where every point could prove decisive in determining the eventual champions.
The Tunisian coach remains one of several foreign managers to guide clubs into the title-winning stage this season. Alongside him are Radhi Jaidi, who leads Al-Olympi Club, Jamal Khasharm at Al-Ittihad Misrata, and Tariq Al-Hadhiri, coach of Al-Afriqi Derna.
As the title race continues, attention is now expected to shift not only toward results on the pitch, but also toward the scrutiny surrounding refereeing performances in Libya’s top division.
