DUBAI: The Dispute Resolution Chamber at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has issued five rulings requiring two Saudi Pro League teams and three from the First Division to clear outstanding dues to former players and managers.
In the highest profile case, top division side Al-Shabab FC were ordered to pay their former goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah SAR 670,708 ($178,837) in settlement of outstanding dues to the player.
Abdullah had swapped Al-Shabab for their Riyadh rivals Al-Nassr in a free transfer in February 2017, taking advantage of the Bosman rule, which allows players to negotiate a transfer and sign a pre-contract without the consent of their current club, provided they are in the final six months of their contract, which was the case for Abdullah at Al-Shabab.
However, the Saudi international was eager to bring forward his move across the city, and bought out the remainder of his contract at Al-Shabab, joining Al-Nassr in February 2017 on an initial five-months amateur contract before signing a three-year deal worth SAR 12 million the following summer.
Al-Shabab were ordered to pay the SAFF disciplinary committee SAR 33,535 in legal fees as well as a SAR 5,000 fine. The club will have the chance to appeal the decision at the Saudi Sport Arbitration Center and will be given 30 days to settle the payment should the appeals committee uphold the ruling.
The 71-times Saudi international had filed a complaint against his former club, demanding outstanding wages predating the duration of his contract bought out.
Saudi Pro League bottom half side Al-Batin were hit with a fine of SAR 5,000 and were ordered to pay SAR 569,000 in overdue wages for their former coach Khaled Al-Qoruni. The Sky Blues were also ordered to pay SAR 28,450 in legal fees. The club is also set to pay coach Nehari Al-Salem SAR 125,833 in outstanding wages within 30 days.
Al-Batin spokesman Mubarak Al Dhafeeri commented on the decision, confirming his side will not be lodging an appeal.
“We acknowledge Al-Qoruni’s dues, and we know this decision is right, so will not be appealing,” said Al-Dhafeeri.
“We went through some financial difficulties and thus were not able to pay him on time. But now, we have already paid 70 percent of the amount and will be paying the rest within the next month. Al-Qoruni is one of the best managers to come to our club, and the fact he filed a complaint against us will not change the special relationship between him and the club.”
Elsewhere, there were rulings against First Division sides Al-Orouba, Hajjr and Najran requiring them to pay a combined total of SAR 350,000 in outstanding dues to former players.
Al-Shabab FC and other Saudi clubs ordered to clear dues to players and managers
Al-Shabab FC and other Saudi clubs ordered to clear dues to players and managers
Inaugural Kidzink Pearl Cup wraps up at Dubai Offshore Club
- Sailors aged 8-18 competed in the Optimist Coached, Optimist, ILCA 4, 29er and RS Feva classes
DUBAI: The inaugural Kidzink Pearl Cup wrapped up in Dubai after welcoming more than 100 youth sailors from 17 countries for one of the Middle East’s first international open youth sailing regattas.
Held from Dec. 15-21 at Dubai Offshore Sailing Club with the support of Dubai Sports Council, the Kidzink Pearl Cup brought together sailors aged 8-18 to compete in the Optimist Coached, Optimist, ILCA 4, 29er and RS Feva classes.
Backed by global educational design company Kidzink as title sponsor and strategic partner, the event combined four days of competitive racing with ideal windy conditions, with three days of Olympic-level coaching delivered by an international coaching team, giving young sailors the chance to train and race in competitive and challenging conditions alongside peers from different countries and sailing cultures.
The young sailors also took part in interactive onshore sessions developed with Kidzink’s research team, with the event putting the focus on leadership, inclusivity and clean-water awareness.
Charlotte Borghesi, founder and general manager of Kidzink, said: “The energy throughout the week was incredible. You could see learning happening in real time, friendships forming on the dock and young sailors growing in confidence every day.
The Kidzink Pearl Cup is about more than racing, it’s about creating an environment where young people feel inspired, supported and excited to learn.”
A two-time world champion sailor herself, Borghesi brings first-hand experience to the event, having made history in 2023 as the first female helmswoman to win the SB20 World Championship, followed by her team’s victory at the SB20 Women’s World Sailing Championship in Singapore in 2025.
Alongside the racing program, sailors took part in Kidzink’s interactive learning sessions. The UAE sessions built on work first piloted at the Kidzink-supported 29er Class European and World Championships earlier this year.
Local talent featured strongly throughout the week, with members of the DOSC racing squad lining up alongside international competitors. Among them were 14-year-old Chloe Montanet and 12-year-old Edward West.
In the Optimist Coached fleet, first place was claimed by Lev Ryashin (RUS), followed by Matteo Bertucci (ITA) in second and Gonzalo Montero (ESP) in third.
In the Optimist class Jean-Luc Herve (UAE) topped the podium, followed by Xuan Ya Tong (KSA) in second, and Miquel Rossello-Collinge (ESP) rounding out the podium.
The ILCA 4 title went to Fynley Britton (GBR), with Indraneel Roy (IND), and Katyayani Kaushik (IND) completing the podium.
In the 29er fleet, Dominic West and Fynley Britton took top honours, followed by Lily Britton and Matteo Gardenghi in second place with Noah Fisk and Alex Simmonds third.
The RS Feva Coached podium consisted of Ameya Rahul Nair and Arya Khanna in first, Miles Wilson-Brown and Noah Kahlon second, and Finlay Henderson and Rayan Abdallah third.
“Our work in sailing reflects our broader mission to design and create educational environments and experiences where young people thrive,” Borghesi added. “The Kidzink Pearl Cup is just the beginning of much more to come.”
