Saudi clubs hit with fines
DUBAI: The Dispute Resolution Chamber at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has issued five rulings requiring two Saudi Pro League teams and three from the First Division to clear outstanding dues to former players and managers.
In the highest-profile case, top division side Al-Shabab were ordered to pay their former goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah SR670,708 ($178,837) in settlement of outstanding dues to the player.
Abdullah had swapped Al-Shabab for their Riyadh rivals Al-Nassr in a free transfer in February 2017, taking advantage of the Bosman rule, which allows players to negotiate a transfer and sign a pre-contract without the consent of their current club, provided they are in the final six months of their contract, which was the case for Abdullah at Al-Shabab.
However, the Saudi Arabia international was eager to bring forward his move across the city, and bought out the remainder of his contract at Al-Shabab, joining Al-Nassr in February 2017 on an initial five-month amateur contract before signing a three-year deal worth SR 12 million the following summer.
Al-Shabab were ordered to pay the SAFF disciplinary committee SR33,535 in legal fees as well as a SR5,000 fine. The club will have the chance to appeal the decision at the Saudi Sport Arbitration Center and will be given 30 days to settle the payment should the appeals committee uphold the ruling.
The 71-times Saudi Arabia international had filed a complaint against his former club, demanding outstanding wages predating the duration of his contract bought out.
Saudi Pro League bottom-half side Al-Batin were hit with a fine of SR5,000 and were ordered to pay SR569,000 in overdue wages for their former coach Khaled Al-Qoruni. The Sky Blues were also ordered to pay SR28,450 in legal fees. The club is also set to pay coach Nehari Al-Salem SR125,833 in outstanding wages within 30 days.
Al-Batin spokesman Mubarak Al-Dhafeeri confirmed his side will not be lodging an appeal.
“We acknowledge Al-Qoruni’s dues, and we know this decision is right, so will not be appealing,” said Al-Dhafeeri.
“We went through some financial difficulties and thus were not able to pay him on time. But now, we have already paid 70 percent of the amount and will be paying the rest within the next month. Al-Qoruni is one of the best managers to come to our club, and the fact he filed a complaint against us will not change the special relationship between him and the club.”
Elsewhere, there were rulings against First Division sides Al-Orouba, Hajjr and Najran requiring them to pay a combined total of SR350,000 in outstanding dues to former players.