On April 27, 2026, the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Football Federation issued a series of disciplinary decisions related to various incidents and matches in the Saudi Roshan League. These decisions included financial fines and suspensions for players, as well as the rejection of an official protest from Al-Ahli.
In the match between Al-Fayha and Al-Ahli held on April 8, 2026, it was confirmed that Al-Ahli player Ivan Toney violated articles (50-2) and (50-4) of the disciplinary regulations due to his statements after the match and the content he posted on his official Instagram account, which included insults towards match officials. The committee decided to impose a financial fine of 90,000 SAR, along with a warning against repeating such behavior, emphasizing that the decision is subject to appeal according to article (144).
Details of the Violations
Additionally, player Anderson Rodrigues Galeno was found guilty of violating article (50-4) after he posted messages on his account on platform X, which stirred public opinion. The committee decided to fine him 50,000 SAR, with a warning against repeating the violation, noting that the decision is not subject to appeal.
Moreover, Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle was fined 40,000 SAR for violating article (50-2) due to his offensive remarks during the post-match press conference. He received a warning against repeating such insults.
In a related context, Al-Ahli club photographer Tawa Antonis Gomes was fined 50,000 SAR after posting offensive content on Instagram, along with a warning against repeating the violation.
Regarding protests, the committee decided to reject the protest submitted by Al-Ahli concerning the referee's decisions in the Al-Fayha match, confiscating the protest fee for the benefit of the Saudi Federation, and confirming that the decision is not subject to appeal.
In the match between Al-Qadisiyah and Al-Shabab held on April 14, 2026, Al-Shabab player Wesley Houdet was suspended for two matches after receiving a direct red card due to unsportsmanlike conduct, and was fined 20,000 SAR.
In the match between Al-Nassr and Al-Ettifaq on April 15, 2026, Al-Ettifaq player Jack Hendry was also suspended for two matches after being sent off with a red card for disgraceful conduct, and was fined 20,000 SAR.
Furthermore, Al-Hazem club was fined 10,000 SAR after six of its players received yellow cards during their match against Riyadh on April 24, 2026. On the same day, Al-Fateh club was fined 10,000 SAR due to its fans throwing water bottles onto the field.
Background & Context
These decisions come as part of the Saudi Football Federation's efforts to enhance discipline and professionalism in the Roshan League, as the federation aims to maintain the league's reputation and improve the level of athletic performance. Recently, there has been an increase in violations and misconduct by players and coaches, necessitating the committee's intervention to put an end to such behaviors.
The committee seeks to enforce the laws strictly to ensure that such violations do not recur, reflecting the federation's commitment to developing football in the Kingdom.
Impact & Consequences
These decisions are expected to significantly influence the behavior of players and coaches in upcoming matches, as they will promote discipline and professionalism. The financial fines may also lead to changes in clubs' strategies regarding their players and coaches.
These measures represent an important step toward improving the level of competition in the league, as discipline is one of the essential elements for achieving success in any sport.
Regional Significance
These decisions serve as a model for other countries in the Arab region, where many nations are striving to develop their sports and enhance discipline in competitions. Such steps could motivate the implementation of similar standards in other leagues, contributing to the overall improvement of the image of Arab sports.
In conclusion, these decisions stand as evidence of the Saudi Football Federation's commitment to developing the game and promoting sports values.