When Fences Get Tested: Fines, Red Cards, and Derby Sparks Shake Saudi Pro League

Disciplinary actions and notable fines

The Saudi Arabia Football Federations Disciplinary and Ethics Committee announced penalties for Round 7 of the Roshen Saudi Pro League. The weekend produced a mix of on field discipline and fan behavior that captured headlines across clubs.

Al Ahli Jeddah were fined 60,000 riyals after fans threw 12 water bottles onto the pitch during the match with Al Riyadh, illustrating how passion can spill onto the field and into the wallet.

The match between Al Ahli and Al Riyadh had been tightly contested, remaining scoreless for long stretches before a stoppage time penalty by Al Ahli in the 12th minute of added time. Two minutes later Al Riyadh equalized with a penalty of their own, fueling frustration among Ahli fans.

Brazilian Fabinho of Al Ittihad received a 10,000 riyal fine for a red card against Al Khaleej due to violent play, reflecting a trend of stricter enforcement after a spate of bookings.

Senegalese Kalidou Koulibaly of Al Hilal was also fined 10,000 riyals for a red card against Al Shabab, underscoring the high stakes in the derbies and the willingness of the committee to act swiftly.

French Mousa Dembele of Al Ettifaq was fined 10,000 riyals for violent conduct in the match against Al Hazem, continuing a broader round of disciplinary measures across the league.

Additionally, Al Ittihad had finished their clash with Al Khaleej with 10 men after Fabinho was sent off, a decision upheld by video review. Al Hilal also played the late stages of the Derby against Al Shabab without Koulibaly, reflecting strategic adjustments during crunch moments.

Ittihad in Asia and other notes

The column also noted a strong showing from Al Ittihad in Asia, as they routed Al Sharjah 3-0 in the AFC Champions League. That result boosted their tally to six points after two straight wins, following a 4-1 victory over Al Shorta in the previous AFC round.

With two wins and two losses, Al Ittihad sits sixth in their West Asia group, a reminder that continental competition continues to intertwine with domestic leagues for a club focused on multiple trophies this season.

Key players, quotes and coming fixtures

After the win over Sharjah, Dutch winger Steven Bergwijn spoke to the press saying the team looked good, scored early, and that a well delivered cross from Mohannad Al Shenqiti sparked the breakthrough. He added that the victory gives momentum for the next challenges.

French winger Moussa Diaby was slightly more reserved, noting that the performance could have been better, but stressing that the most important outcome was the points and that the upcoming league clash with Al Ahli would be a tough test.

On the injury and availability front, Hassan Tambakti was ruled out of the upcoming match with Al Najma due to illness and a lingering absence from training. Ali Al Bulayhi has rejoined the training squad and is in contention to be selected, while Nasr Jami (Ali Lajami) is expected to be out for 3 to 4 weeks after sustaining an injury. The team also confirmed that Tamabkti and Ali Al Bulayhi were affected by influenza that previously kept them from travelling to Qatar for a match against Al Gharafa and that Ali Bulayhi has since returned to training in preparation for the next league game against Al Najma.