Amman — The story of Al-Jazeera star Yaseen Al-Bakhit’s hat-trick did not end with the three goals he scored against Duqra in a match that Al-Jazeera won 5-1 on Monday evening in the fifth round of the Jordan Professional League. The incident continued beyond the final whistle, after a dispute over the match ball raised questions about the procedures followed in such situations.
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The 37-year-old Al-Bakhit drew attention by scoring three goals and playing a direct role in leading his team to a resounding victory. However, his celebration of the individual achievement was accompanied by an unexpected incident when he tried to keep the match ball as a special memento of his hat-trick, only to be asked to return it. The incident surprised him and sparked debate among followers.
With this hat-trick, Al-Bakhit took his tally to four goals in the Professional League this season, moving to the top of the scoring charts outright ahead of the final day of the fifth round. His performance reinforced the notion that age is just a number and that he remains capable of contributing on the pitch for years to come.
While fans around the world are accustomed to seeing players keep match balls after scoring three or more goals in a game, the incident raised questions about the procedures in place in Jordan’s domestic league. It also prompted debate over whether players are entitled to keep the ball under official regulations or whether the practice depends on custom or organisational arrangements that vary from one competition to another.
The incident has once again highlighted details that may seem minor but carry significant sentimental value for players, particularly when they achieve something exceptional, such as scoring three goals in a single match. For a player, the match ball serves as a lasting reminder of an occasion that may not happen often during a football career.
In Al-Bakhit’s case, the incident attracted additional attention because his outstanding performance came in a match in which Al-Jazeera scored five goals. As a result, post-match discussion focused not only on his performance on the pitch but also on how officials handled the ball with which he scored his three goals.
The issue is less about the ball’s financial value than its sentimental significance and the need for clear procedures governing such situations, ensuring that celebrations of individual achievements do not turn into sources of controversy.
In this context, coach Islam Jalal said the usual practice in Jordanian football has been not to hand the match ball to players who score a hat-trick. He expressed hope that the Jordan Football Association would issue a directive instructing match officials to give the ball to such players in the future as a form of recognition.
Speaking to Al-Ghad, Jalal said the association should address small details that could help improve the league’s reputation, such as introducing monthly awards for the best player, player, coach and goalkeeper. He stressed that giving the ball to players who score three goals would not affect the budget of an association whose national team has reached the World Cup, particularly since no more than 10 players achieve this feat in a season.
“During my work in the Saudi youth leagues over the past period, I saw players who scored a hat-trick receive the match ball on several occasions, even when they were playing at the opposing team’s stadium,” Jalal added.
Jalal praised Al-Bakhit’s significant technical contribution to Al-Jazeera despite his age. Having coached him two seasons ago, he described him as a genuine leader on and off the pitch who often advocates for his teammates’ financial interests before his own. He also highlighted Al-Bakhit’s technical ability, experience, intelligence in scoring and skill in creating goals.
Sports analyst Tareq Ghassab, meanwhile, said one of the major problems in the domestic league is the failure to highlight players’ achievements and promote them through the Football Association’s platforms. He cited the decision not to give Al-Bakhit the match ball as an example, arguing that the association should not have handled the matter publicly and could instead have explained privately, perhaps in the changing rooms, that it was unable to give him the ball.
Speaking to Al-Ghad, Ghassab expressed admiration for Al-Bakhit’s determination and spirit in reviving his football career in such impressive fashion. He said the player has outperformed many others in terms of productivity and speed, and expressed hope that he would serve as a role model for future generations of footballers.
The incident underscores the importance of clear regulations governing match-day procedures, particularly in situations that recur on the pitch and attract the attention of players and fans. Clear, publicly announced guidelines would help limit inconsistent individual decisions and prevent off-field incidents from overshadowing the sporting value of matches.
Source: Al-Ghad. Reporting: Muhannad Juwailis
