Between the fine and suspension, Neves' fate is at the disciplinary table

The Portuguese Ruben Neves, the Al Hilal midfielder, sparked a wave of controversy following his recent statements about the referee’s performance in his team’s match against Al-Taawoun in the Saudi League.In this context, lawyer and legal advisor Muhammad Al-Dini explained that these statements may prompt the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee to open the case file and consider the possibility of imposing sanctions on the player. He indicated that the potential penalty may be limited to a fine of 50,000 riyals, if Neves’ statements are considered minor violations according to the approved regulations.He added that the matter may develop further if the committee sees that the player’s speech included direct insult to the referee, which may expose him to more severe penalties, including suspension for several matches, in addition to a fine that may reach 300,000 riyals.These developments come after Al Hilal’s draw with Al Hilal. Al-Taawoun won 2-2, in a confrontation that witnessed widespread arbitration controversy. Neves had expressed his objection to one of the referee’s decisions, based on a snapshot he showed on his phone, in which he confirmed that there was a foul that was not called before Al-Taawoun’s goal.Al-Hilal fans are awaiting the decision of the Disciplinary Committee during the coming period, in light of the sensitivity of the current stage of the season, and the impact that may have on the team’s progress.