Saudi Pro League fines Al-Shabab SAR 2 million after contract review—what’s next for the club?

What happened

Financial Control Committee of the Saudi Pro League has imposed a hefty fine on Al-Shabab after reviewing documents related to the first-team contracts.

State-owned daily Al-Yaum quoted the committee saying the sanction amounts to 2 million Saudi riyals for breaching several provisions of the league s financial regulations and the conditions that apply to clubs under active supervision.

The trouble apparently started when the club s executives signed contracts with first-team players before obtaining formal approvals from the financial oversight body, creating substantial financial commitments for the coming two seasons.

Al-Shabab is ordered to deposit the 2 million SAR into the league s account within 30 days of notification, with a warning that further violations will bring stricter penalties.

Additionally, the club can appeal to the governing arbitration center under its procedures, while observing the exemptions in the league s financial rules.

In November, Al-Shabab announced that FIFA had temporarily blocked its registration and barred it from signing players due to outstanding dues worth 500 000 dollars to Dynamo Kyiv related to the transfer of the Ukrainian goalkeeper Georgiy Bushan.

Management said they have begun urgent steps to settle the amount and expect the ban to be lifted in time for the upcoming winter window.

Punchline 1: If penalties were paid in laughs, Al-Shabab would be laughing all the way to the transfer window.

Punchline 2: And remember, the budget never sleeps, it just audits you twice.