The Financial Control Committee of the Saudi Pro League announced a hefty fine of one million Saudi riyals against Damac FC after discovering significant violations of the financial regulations governing club operations. This decision underscores the new direction towards governance and financial transparency that the Saudi Pro League is striving to establish in its new professional era.
Details of violations and reasons for punishment
According to the committee's statement, a thorough review of the documents submitted by Damac FC regarding the contracts of its first-team players revealed a series of violations of the 2025 Financial Regulations. The main violations included the club's failure to fulfill its obligations and its failure to provide the required information to regulatory bodies accurately and on time. Most importantly, the club signed new player contracts without obtaining prior approval from the Financial Control Department, a mandatory requirement for clubs under "active monitoring" to ensure their financial stability.
General context: Financial governance in the era of Saudi football transformation
This decision comes amidst a historic transformation of the sports sector in Saudi Arabia, as part of Vision 2030. With increasing investments and the attraction of international stars, the implementation of strict governance and financial oversight standards has become essential to ensure the sustainability of clubs and prevent the accumulation of debt. These regulations, similar in philosophy to the Financial Fair Play systems implemented in Europe, aim to create a fair and stable competitive environment and enhance the credibility of the Saudi League on the international stage. The existence of an independent regulatory body with the authority to impose deterrent penalties is the cornerstone of building a comprehensive professional football system.
The importance of the decision and its expected impact
The significance of this penalty extends far beyond the financial fine; it sends a clear message to all league clubs that the era of leniency regarding financial obligations is over. Domestically, this decision is expected to prompt Damac FC and other clubs to review their internal procedures and fully comply with regulations to avoid harsher penalties in the future. Regionally and internationally, implementing such decisions enhances the reputation of the Saudi league as a professional league managed according to global best practices, thereby increasing its appeal to investors, sponsors, and footballing talent worldwide.
Text of the official decision
Based on the above, the committee decided to impose a fine of SAR 1,000,000 within 30 days, with a warning against repeating the violation. The committee clarified that the decision is subject to appeal before the Saudi Center for Sports Arbitration in accordance with the established procedures.
