Hamad Al-Maqbali says viral Super Cup video was a misunderstanding with Al-Wasl fans
Shabab Al Ahli goalkeeper Hamad Al-Maqbali says a spontaneous celebratory video after the Super Cup final caused a misunderstanding with Al-Wasl fans; he apologised.
Hamad Al-Maqbali, Shabab Al Ahli’s young goalkeeper, has described the episode that followed the club’s Super Cup victory as a misunderstanding rooted in a privately filmed celebratory clip that later spread widely online. Maqbali told a podcast audience that the footage was shot in the heat of the moment after he saved a penalty in the shootout and was never intended as a provocation. The goalkeeper said he moved quickly to apologise after realising the clip had been shared beyond his close circle.
Match context and the viral moment
Maqbali’s account places the incident during the Super Cup final that ended 2-2 in regular time and was decided on penalties in favour of Shabab Al Ahli. The 21-year-old said the match was the first final of his professional career and that the size of the occasion heightened his nerves. He described the decisive penalty save and the immediate rush of emotion that led to a short, celebratory video recorded at sunset.
According to Maqbali, the clip was originally intended for friends and teammates and was filmed within a private Snapchat group where some members were supporters of the opposing side. He said he did not expect the footage to circulate beyond that private circle and was surprised to find it reposted on platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat the following day.
Nerves, pressure and first final experience
The goalkeeper candidly explained that despite appearing composed on the field during the opening stages, he was internally overwhelmed by pressure and anxiety. He said the first 25 minutes saw him manage outward composure while privately battling intense nerves because of the magnitude of the final and the quality of the opponent. Maqbali described how that emotional state fed into the spontaneous clip he later recorded in celebration.
Maqbali stressed that his reaction was personal and immediate rather than planned or targeted. He said the celebratory tone was fuelled by relief and excitement after helping his team secure the trophy, not by malice or intent to offend opposing fans.
Club response and the apology process
The goalkeeper said he acted quickly after the clip gained traction, following advice from his father to issue a formal apology. Maqbali confirmed he delivered a public apology soon after realising the scale of the clip’s circulation. He also said Shabab Al Ahli administrator Ahmed Shah contacted him directly and asked him to remove the video, advice Maqbali said he accepted and acted upon.
Maqbali indicated the club stepped in to manage the situation and advised him on the next steps, with the deletion of the clip seen as an immediate effort to de-escalate tensions. He framed the apology and the removal as genuine attempts to mend relations and to acknowledge the unintended upset caused among some fans.
Online backlash and personal impact
Despite the apology and the deleted footage, Maqbali said significant criticism and abusive messages followed, with some comments directed at his family. He referred to insults aimed at his mother as particularly hurtful and said those attacks had a deep personal impact. The goalkeeper described his mother as a point of vulnerability and said negative remarks about her affected him more than any other criticism.
Maqbali emphasised that the abusive responses exacerbated the situation beyond the original, lighthearted intent of the clip. He conveyed how the social media reaction turned an offhand celebration into a broader controversy, prompting swift personal and club-level efforts to address the fallout.
Steps toward reconciliation and current stance
The goalkeeper said there is no ongoing conflict with Al-Wasl supporters and that he has moved to reconcile with fans following private apologies. Maqbali recounted that one supporter contacted him personally to apologise for the insults, and that he had accepted the gesture, describing the matter as settled between them. He said forgiveness and direct communication were key to resolving the personal elements of the dispute.
Maqbali closed his interview by underlining that the episode stemmed from a misunderstanding rather than deliberate provocation. He reiterated his regret over the wider repercussions and expressed his wish to focus on his career and supporting his team while avoiding further incidents of a similar nature.
The player’s full remarks underline the challenges athletes face when private moments are amplified online and the speed at which misunderstanding can escalate into a public controversy.
