Watch extraordinary scenes in Qatar as a sheikh storms down from executive box onto pitch to furiously confront referee over penalty

A Qatari league match was sensationally interrupted on Sunday evening when a club president stormed the pitch to furiously protest a controversial penalty decision. 

Al-Wakrah were drawing 0-0 with title rivals Al-Sadd in the Qatar Stars League top flight when the referee pointed to the spot in the 65th minute, which left the former’s president Sheikh Khalifa bin Hassan Al-Thani fuming.

Al-Thani made his way down from his executive box to the touchline before moving into the field of play as he began to angrily protest the decision, gesturing passionately and having to be held back by other members of staff. 

Al-Thani begins speaking with his goalkeeper Saoud Mubarak Al Khater, who then relayed a message back to his team-mates after the club chief suggested he wanted to speak with the official. 

Incredible scenes in the Qatari top flight saw a club president storm onto the pitch 

Al-Wakrah chief Sheikh Khalifa bin Hassan Al-Thani was left fuming over a penalty decision 

He gestured towards the ref – who appeared calm and collected and stuck with his decision

The Al-Wakrah supremo then incredibly makes his way towards the goal where the incident occurred despite attempts to stop him from interfering.

He is then intercepted by Al-Wakrah captain Ahmed Fadhel and his team-mate Omar Al Osad, who appear to plead with him to go back to the stands. 

At this point, a group of Al-Sadd players get involved as he is surrounded during a moment of chaos – before Al-Thani grows even more furious and continues moving towards the referee. 

After more pleas from the players, he eventually turns around and heads back towards the touchline, escorted by other club officials. 

The referee looked calm despite the pandemonium, placing his hands on his hips while speaking to the players on the pitch, as he stuck with his on-field decision. 

Reports from Qatar Football Live claimed Al-Thani had attempted to withdraw his players from the game – an allegation the president is said to have denied while speaking to Al-Kass TV. 

And after all the drama, Al-Sadd’s star striker Akram Afif ended up missing his penalty – just weeks after scoring a hat-trick of spot-kicks in the Asian Cup final for Qatar – blazing his effort over the bar. 

Al-Thani was held back by players from both Al-Wakrah and opposition Al-Sadd 

After pleas from the two teams, Al-Thani reluctantly made his way back to the stands

That wasn’t the end to the craziness, however, as Al-Wakrah keeper Saoud charged outside his box during another opportunity for Afif, who was bearing down on goal. 

He clattered the forward outside the box and was shown a red card by the official during a feisty encounter. 

Al-Wakrah managed to hold on despite having one man fewer as they ground out a goalless draw, a vital result in their title race.

League leaders Al-Sadd, the 16-time champions formerly managed by Xavi, are now four points ahead of them in the table after 13 games played.