OFFICIAL: Saudi Arabian football receives disciplinary sanctions from FIFA and AFC.

FIFA unexpectedly bans 10 Saudi Arabian clubs from registering players, amidst a series of teams from this country continuously receiving penalties from AFC for disciplinary violations.

The world football federation FIFA has just announced the latest list of clubs banned from registering players, including up to 10 clubs from Saudi Arabia. This move continues to sound a warning bell about the increasing trend of regulatory violations in the ambitious football scene of the Middle East.

According to the official announcement, the clubs placed on the ban list include Al-Khaloud, Al-Ahda, Al-Safa, Al-Watan, Al-Qaisumah, Abha, Al-Sha’la, Al-Jubail, Al-Batin, and Al-Majd. These are all teams competing at various levels within the Saudi Arabian football system, with the most notable being Al-Khaloud - a representative currently participating in the Saudi Pro League and currently ranked 14th with 26 points after 28 rounds.

Previously, there was information suggesting Al-Ta’i was also subject to a ban, however this team does not appear in the official list from FIFA. Being banned from registering players typically relates to financial issues, contract disputes, or violations of obligations towards players and partners.

Parallel to the sanctions from FIFA, many Saudi Arabian clubs are also facing disciplinary decisions from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) due to violations in continental competitions. Major clubs such as Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Nassr have all been penalized with total fines amounting to tens of thousands of USD.

Notably, Al-Hilal received the heaviest penalty of 35,000 USD for violating regulations within the framework of the AFC Champions League. Additionally, forward Darwin Núñez was fined 20,000 USD for not participating in post-match media activities. Meanwhile, Al-Ahli was fined 9,250 USD for multiple organizational errors, and Al-Nassr received a lighter penalty, 1,750 USD, for delays in returning to the playing field.

The consecutive penalties from both FIFA and AFC indicate that the governing bodies are tightening discipline to ensure professionalism and transparency. This also poses a significant challenge for Saudi Arabian football in maintaining its image and sustainable development on the international stage.