MADRID // Al Ahli chairman Abdullah Al Naboodah rates his club's chances of overturning their expulsion from the Arabian Gulf Cup final as "50/50".
The Dubai side, currently top of the Arabian Gulf League, were this month stripped of their place in next week’s showpiece for reportedly fielding an ineligible player in January’s semi-final against Al Shabab.
Khamis Esmail was introduced as substitute in the final six minutes of the 3-2 victory, having signed for Ahli from Al Jazira the previous day. But Shabab claim the registration with the Football Association was not complete because certain documents were missing.
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The FA’s disciplinary committee upheld Shabab’s complaint and awarded them a 3-0 win and a place in the final against Al Wahda on April 1. However, Ahli appealed the decision and will discover if they have been successful after the Disciplinary Committee meets Wednesday afternoon.
“It is a funny one. It is something that honestly we are not proud of,” Al Naboodah said. “But it is a case in which we thought we were not fairly treated in the whole thing. But that is football.”
Al Naboodah said Ahli will concentrate on the other two competitions they are still involved in.
The six-time UAE champions are one point clear of Al Ain with five rounds remaining in the Arabian Gulf League, while they are also through to the quarter-finals of the President’s Cup. They face Al Wahda in the last eight.
“At the end of the day, we are always optimistic,” he said.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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