"Gulf Cup 27" .. Match referee for "Al-Azraq" and Saudi Al-Akhdar angers Messi
Joao Pinheiro to referee Saudi Arabia vs. Kuwait match in Gulf Cup 27 in Jeddah
Translated by Qiyas from الأنباء — Original source
Portuguese referee João Pinheiro will officiate the match between our national team, the “Blue,” and Saudi Arabia’s Green, on Wednesday, as part of the 27th Gulf Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This comes just months after his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he was involved in a heated exchange with Argentine star Lionel Messi.
Pinheiro is among the foreign referees recruited by the Gulf Football Union to manage matches in the tournament. The Portuguese officiating team includes assistants Pedro Ribeiro and Luciano Maia.
The 38-year-old Pinheiro works as a lawyer alongside his refereeing career. He has spoken about the difficulty of balancing both professions, emphasizing that support from his colleagues has enabled him to continue, noting that it would have been impossible to manage both roles alone.
