Merih Demiral's Outburst After Al-Ahli Loss to Al Qadsiah

Merih Demiral left the pitch beaten on Tuesday night. He did not leave it quietly.

Al-Ahli had just fallen 3-2 to Al Qadsiah, a result that stung the 28-year-old centre-back on its own. He had been unable to prevent the defeat and then had to watch Tijjani Reijnders walk away with man-of-the-match honours after scoring twice. That was already a hard swallow.

Then came the mockery.

Al Qadsiah’s official X account posted a photo of Demiral staring at a phone, paired with a taunting caption: “As always, you can find the pain of defeat on his account.” For a player already simmering with frustration, it was a match thrown on dry grass.

The Turkish defender saw the post. He did not shrug it off. He stormed into the opposition dressing room, reportedly demanding to know who ran the Al Qadsiah account. According to reports, Demiral insisted on an apology and ordered that the post be taken down. The message eventually disappeared from the club’s feed.

The win had pushed Al Qadsiah level at the top of the Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal, and their players and staff celebrated a statement victory over Al-Ahli. The online jibe, though, crossed a line for Demiral, who has never worn defeat well.

His reaction on Tuesday was not an isolated flash of temper. The former Juventus defender has already built a reputation in Saudi Arabia as a ferocious competitor who does not easily accept coming second. Back in April, after Al-Ahli lost to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in the AFC Champions League, Demiral was again incensed.

That night, he turned to social media himself. He posted two photos of his AFC Champions League medal with a pointed caption aimed at the opposition: “For the first time, they are seeing a Champions League medal in their stadium.” It was a reminder of his own pedigree and a sharp dig at the hosts.

From taunts on X to confrontations in the dressing room, Demiral’s fury is no longer just a footnote to Al-Ahli defeats. It is becoming part of the story every time the final whistle goes against him.