6 reasons behind the decline in disciplinary penalties in the league

Athletes summarized the reasons for the decline in penalties and disciplinary financial violations, issued by the Football Association’s Disciplinary Committee against professional clubs, during the current season 2025-2026, in six main reasons, the most important of which is the decline in the technical level of the league in general, and the absence of controversial cases that caused the emotions of players and fans.

They explained that among the reasons also is the clubs’ keenness to avoid financial fines, to avoid entering into financial obligations that constitute a burden on their budgets, in addition to the high level of awareness among players, fans, and technical and administrative bodies.

They pointed out that requiring players to pay the value of the financial fines imposed on them, instead of the clubs as was the case previously, represents an important deterrent to reducing violations, in addition to the clubs gaining great experience in dealing with the regulations, in addition to awareness workshops organized by the Professional League and the Football Association to explain the laws and discipline on the field.

They also confirmed that the lack of refereeing errors contributed to reducing emotional states among players and fans.

They told Emirates Al-Youm that the parties to the game, especially the players and the public, have become more committed to the laws and regulations during matches, as a result of the accumulation of experience and heightened awareness after many years of turning professional, which contributed to the decline in cases of deviation from the script, and according to statistics monitored by Emirates Al-Youm from the records of the Football Association, the total disciplinary fines in the league until the 22nd round (four rounds remaining in the current season) amounted to only 170 thousand dirhams.

In a related context, previous statistics showed that the value of financial fines in the 2024-2025 season amounted to 220 thousand dirhams until the 14th round, before reaching 595 thousand dirhams by the end of the season, while the 2023-2024 season recorded about 649 thousand dirhams, and the 2022-2023 season about 605 thousand dirhams.

Obliging the player to pay the fine

For his part, the former Chairman of the Football Association’s Player Status and Transfer Committee, Dr. Salim Al Shamsi, confirmed that the decline in disciplinary penalties in the recent period is due to the high level of maturity and awareness among fans, players and clubs, after years of implementing professionalism in the UAE League.

He added that holding the player responsible for paying the fine instead of the club represents an important deterrent, prompting him to avoid committing disciplinary violations.

He pointed out that the use of foreign arbitration also contributed to reducing violations, by enhancing fairness in the management of matches, pointing out that the decline in the technical level and the absence of strong competition were among the factors affecting the decrease in the number of penalties.

Maturity and awareness

For his part, Dibba team manager, Jumaa Al-Abdouli, said that disciplinary penalties against clubs, fans and players have actually decreased over the past period, attributing this to the high level of awareness and maturity of all parties.

He explained that clubs play an important role through continuous guidance, in addition to lectures and workshops organized by the Professional League, noting that there has been a noticeable development in methods of encouraging fans.

He stressed that the lack of arbitration errors also contributed to reducing cases of emotion, stressing that obligating the player to pay the fine himself is one of the most important reasons for the decline in penalties.

Absence of controversial cases

In turn, the former official spokesman for the Football Association’s Player Status and Transfer Committee, Counselor Yacoub Al-Ali, confirmed that there was a noticeable decline in disciplinary penalties, pointing out the absence of major controversial violations, and their confinement to simple cases such as protest. He added that the decline in penalties was due to three main reasons, including the clubs’ keenness to avoid fines, and their possession of cumulative experience in dealing with regulations and laws, in addition to the development of their dealings with arbitration, match observers, and organizing meetings.

He pointed out that the awareness workshops organized by the Professional League and the Football Association represent a major factor in enhancing discipline, in addition to the presence of clear regulations governing the relationship between the parties to the game.

He pointed out that despite the intensification of competition in the league, whether for the title, midfield positions, or relegation, this was not reflected in an increase in violations as expected.

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The 6 reasons for the decline in sanctions

1- The clubs are keen to avoid fines to avoid financial burdens.

2- The decline in the technical level and the absence of controversial cases.

3- Increased awareness among players, fans, and technical and administrative bodies.

4- Obligating the player to pay the fine instead of the club.

5- Few arbitration errors.

6- Increasing the clubs’ experience and the effectiveness of awareness workshops.