The Appeals Committee of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation has closed the case that has recently preoccupied the sports scene, related to Al-Qadisiyah Club’s protest against Al-Ahli Club, following the match that brought the two teams together in the Saudi Professional League competitions at Al-Inma Stadium.
The committee issued an official and decisive decision regarding this matter, announcing through its official account the rejection of the appeal submitted by Al-Qadisiyah Club on the merits, thus confirming the correctness and soundness of Al-Ahli Club’s position and supporting the previous decision issued by the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee.
Details of the Appeals Committee's decision
The decision, published by the committee via its “X” platform (formerly Twitter), upheld the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee's decision No. (145/LD/2025 (25-26)) issued on December 3, 2025. The committee not only rejected the appeal but also applied the resulting financial regulations, stipulating that the appeal fees paid by Al-Qadisiyah Club be confiscated and deposited into the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's account, based on paragraph (3) of Article (148) of the applicable Disciplinary and Ethics Regulations.
Legal path and next steps
Despite this decision, the legal framework within the Saudi sports system guarantees clubs the right to appeal to the highest court. The committee noted in its concluding statement that this decision is subject to appeal. This is based on Article 61, Paragraph (1) of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's statutes, which allows Al-Qadisiyah Club to appeal to the Saudi Center for Sports Arbitration, the highest authority for resolving sports disputes, should it wish to escalate the matter.
The context of competition and the importance of administrative discipline
This decision comes at a time when the Saudi Professional League is witnessing fierce competition and tremendous development on all levels, both technical and organizational. The judicial committees within the Saudi Football Federation, such as the Disciplinary and Appeals Committees, play a pivotal role in regulating the competition and ensuring fairness among all competing clubs. These decisions are an integral part of sports governance, which aims to apply regulations rigorously and transparently, thus enhancing the credibility of the league, which has become a focus of global attention.
This measure reflects the Saudi Federation’s keenness to quickly resolve issues and protests to ensure the stability of the standings and prevent results from being suspended for long periods, which helps clubs and technical staff to focus on the pitch away from pending administrative conflicts.
