Details of Al-Ittihad Club's complaint against a Riyadh-based club regarding illegal negotiations

In a remarkable development in the events within the corridors of Saudi football, informed sources revealed to Okaz newspaper an official and legal move by the management of Al-Ittihad Club , as it submitted an official complaint to the Saudi Football Federation against a “capital” club and an administrator who occupies a position in the same club, who is a former international player, on the basis of accusations of illegal negotiations.

Details of the complaint and the charges brought

The complaint filed by the club's administrator centers on his opening of negotiations with several Al-Ittihad players in violation of regulations and bylaws. According to sources, these negotiations took place during the last winter transfer window and included direct contact within the locker room , as well as text messages, with the aim of inciting the players and attempting to influence them to pressure their current club.

The serious violation lies in the fact that these players have not yet entered the "free period" (which allows them to negotiate without referring to their club), which makes any contact with them a clear violation of the regulations that protect club contracts with their players.

Legal context and professional regulations

Al-Ittihad Club's management bases its complaint on clear articles in the Professionalism and Player Status Regulations issued by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, which are consistent with FIFA regulations. These regulations clearly state:

• Any club wishing to sign a professional player is obligated to inform his current club in writing before entering into any negotiations.
• The player's freedom to sign for another club is restricted to the case of the expiry of his contract or entering the last six months of the contract.

Bypassing these official channels is considered "tapping up" or illegal negotiation, a behavior that is strictly punished by sports law to ensure the integrity of competition and the stability of contracts.

The importance of the event and its impact on the sports scene

This complaint is of paramount importance given the historic transformations underway in Saudi sports and the privatization project, as attention is focused on implementing the highest standards of administrative and legal professionalism. The relationship between the major clubs (Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, and Al-Ahli) is a cornerstone of the strength of the Saudi Professional League, and therefore, such cases present the judicial committees with a true test of their ability to deliver justice.

This case is expected to have wide-ranging repercussions. If the disciplinary and ethics committee the guilty parties guilty, they may face penalties including fines, and possibly bans from registering for specific periods, or suspension of the administrator responsible for the action.

Federal action to protect rights

Sources confirmed that Al-Ittihad's legal department not only filed the complaint but also prepared a comprehensive file supported by evidence and documentation of the alleged violations. This move comes as part of the Jeddah-based club's efforts to preserve its achievements and the stability of its team, and to prevent any practices that might distract the players off the field. The club expressed its confidence in the procedures that will be undertaken by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.