In the 4th round of the Saudi Pro League, Al-Hilal defeated Al-Khaleej 5-1, but the match was marked by a controversial penalty decision involving defender Koulibaly's "childish error".

After goalkeeper Bounou kicked the ball to Koulibaly, the defender used his hand to control the ball before kicking it long. Chief referee István Kovács awarded a penalty for the handball offense.

The decision echoes a controversial incident from last season's Champions League quarter-final between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid. In that match, Atlético Madrid player Pavél used his hand to stop a pass from Bounou and then cleared the ball. Notably, the match referee was also István Kovács, who did not award a penalty in that instance.

[The childish mistake returns: Pavél used his hand to stop Bounou's pass without a penalty call]

According to current regulations, if a goalkeeper touches the ball and takes a goal kick, and a defender then deliberately touches the ball with their hand or arm inside the penalty area, a penalty shall be awarded. Koulibaly fell victim to this rule, and the referee enforcing it was István Kovács, who was at the center of a similar controversy last season.

However, Al-Hilal's goalkeeper Bounou, renowned as a penalty-saving expert, reacted quickly and stood firm to block the penalty, demonstrating the same composure he showed when saving the Netherlands' penalty in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

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