World Cup Referee, Al Mirdasi Under Investigation By The Saudi Arabia Football Association

Fahad Al-Mirdasi was chosen as one of 36 referees chosen by FIFA. He was replaced by English whistler Mark Clattenberg for the King’s Cup final between Al-Ittihad and Al-Faisaly on Saturday.

Al Mirdasi who is selected by FIFA is being investigated by the authorities of Saudi Arabia, the country’s football a s sociation. He has been a full international referee for FIFA since 2011.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation said via Twitter that Al-Mirdasi was under “administrative investigation” but did not specify the nature of the probe.

Al-Mirdasi was selected for Confederations Cup in Russia last year, which served a warmup for the World Cup tournament, Russia.

At the tournament, he oversaw the third-place match between Portugal and Mexico where two penalties were awarded, two players were sent-off in extra time and Mexican Coach Juan Carlos Osorio was dismissed.

Al Mirdasi was also a referee at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

The federation statement on Twitter did not specify the nature of the investigation into the 32-year-old Al Mirdasi. It said the decision was approved by the Saudi Olympic Committee, whose president, Turki al-Sheikh, also runs the General Sports Authority.

Al Mirdasi is one of 36 referees chosen by FIFA to work in the 64 games at the World Cup which kicks off on June 14 in Russia.

"The matter is with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation," FIFA told The Associated Press, declining to have any other further comment on his status at the World Cup.