Tensions Flare at Al Hilal: Coach Jorge Jesus in Heated Exchange with Renan Lodi
During a high-stakes match against Al Raed, Al Hilal's head coach Jorge Jesus was involved in a heated verbal altercation with Brazilian defender Renan Lodi following a late substitution.
Al Hilal is currently engaged in a fierce title race with Al Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League. Their recent encounter with Al Raed was crucial, especially after Al Ittihad secured a victory earlier in the week. Al Hilal needed a win to maintain a two-point gap behind the league leaders.
The match proved challenging, with Al Hilal trailing 2-1 until the 87th minute. A goal from Leonardo leveled the score, but a draw was insufficient for their title aspirations. In stoppage time, Ali Al-Bulaihi scored in the 90+10th minute, securing a vital 3-2 victory for Al Hilal.
Amid the intense atmosphere, head coach Jorge Jesus had a severe verbal confrontation with defender Renan Lodi. The incident occurred after Lodi was substituted in the 90+1st minute. Reports suggest that Lodi expressed dissatisfaction with the timing of his substitution, prompting an angry reaction from Jesus. A video clip from the match shows Jesus shouting and using offensive language towards Lodi, with Yasser Al-Shahrani intervening to de-escalate the situation.
This altercation highlights the mounting pressure within Al Hilal's camp as they strive to keep pace in the title race. The club has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident between Jesus and Lodi.