Saudi Arabia national team and Al Hilal midfielder Mohamed Kanno has been hit with a three-game suspension and a fine by the world football’s governing body (FIFA) on Tuesday.
Kanno received a red card in the 19th minute of Saudi Arabia’s 2-1 win over China in the second round of the Asian 2026 World Cup qualifier on 10 September. The incident occurred when he needlessly kicked out at China’s Jiang Shenglong without provocation.
VAR Intervention and FIFA Decision
Although the referee initially blown for a foul, VAR prompted a review, leading to Kanno’s dismissal. FIFA Disciplinary Committee has suspended the 30-year-old for three international matches. In addition, Kanno faces a fine of 50,000 Swiss francs for his actions.
Exclusion from Upcoming Matches
Italian coach Roberto Mancini has excluded Kanno from the Green Falcons’ squad that is gearing up for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Bahrain, scheduled for 10 and 14 October, respectively.
Currently, Saudi Arabia sit second in Asian WC 2026 Group C with four points, two points behind Japan. They started their campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Indonesia in Riyadh.
