Statistics monitored by 'Emirates Today' from records of the Football Association revealed that the total value of financial penalties imposed on clubs in the ADNOC Pro League for the current 2025-2026 football season reached only 70,000 dirhams by the 13th round of the competition. A significant decrease was noted in the volume of financial disciplinary penalties against clubs compared to previous seasons, which saw high penalties. Last season, the value of penalties reached around 220,000 dirhams by the 14th round.These penalties included only three clubs out of 14: Sharjah, Al Ahli, and Bataeh. Meanwhile, records of 11 clubs were free of any disciplinary penalties: Al Ain, Al Wahda, Al Wasl, Al Jazira, Al Nasr, Bani Yas, Al Dhafra, Kalba, Ajman, Khorfakkan, and Dibba.Sharjah topped the list of disciplinary penalties with an amount of 50,000 dirhams. The team's coach, the Serbian Milos, was fined 20,000 dirhams and banned from accompanying the team for one match for insulting the referee. The club was also fined 30,000 dirhams for its players receiving six yellow cards in a single match. Meanwhile, Al Ahli was fined 10,000 dirhams for their fans insulting a player of the opposing team. The goalkeeper of Bataeh, Ibrahim Issa, was warned and fined 10,000 dirhams, in addition to repair costs, for damaging the club's property.Dr. Salim Al Shamisi, former head of the Players' Status and Transfers Committee at the Football Association, commented on the noticeable decline in financial disciplinary penalties in the ADNOC Pro League this season compared to previous ones. He said: 'This matter came as a result of the clubs' commitment to applying laws and regulations, along with their keenness to educate and train their players in this regard, in addition to the deterrent disciplinary penalties applied by the Disciplinary Committee, especially after financial penalties became more impactful than administrative ones.'Al Shamisi described the decline in financial disciplinary penalties as a positive matter for both clubs and players, confirming that it 'contributes significantly to curbing unjustified disciplinary violations, expecting a greater decline in the value of financial penalties next season.'Al Shamisi added: 'The league is starting to reap the fruits of the deterrent material penalties, which have become greater than administrative penalties. Previously, the club and the player would be harmed by administrative penalties, especially the suspension of players, but this changed after applying the new system based on deterrent financial penalties.'Al Shamisi wished that the upcoming seasons in the UAE league would be free of any disciplinary penalties, whether financial or administrative, against clubs and players.Clubs not subjected to financial penalties:Al Ain, Al Wahda, Al Wasl, Al Jazira, Al Nasr, Al Dhafra, Kalba, Ajman, Khorfakkan, Dibba, and Bani Yas.Clubs subjected to financial penalties in the first round:Sharjah: two fines – 50,000 dirhams.Al Ahli: one fine – 10,000 dirhams.Bataeh: one fine – 10,000 dirhams.
