Angry Al Ahli to appeal Majed Naser’s six-month suspension

The suspension 'comes in the wake of ... clear efforts that aim to tarnish Al Ahli' says the club as it prepares to appeal a major suspension of keeper Naser.

Al Ahli keeper Majed Naser was suspended for six months for spitting at a referee in an Arabian Gulf League match against Al Ain. Mike Young / The National

John McAuley

DUBAI // Al Ahli will appeal Majed Naser’s six-month suspension and Dh200,000 fine for reportedly spitting at a referee, saying the sentences “are nothing but an extension of the media campaign being waged against the club”.

The UAE champions have reacted angrily to Monday’s decision, taken by the Football Association’s disciplinary committee, to ban Naser following an incident at the conclusion of last week’s Arabian Gulf League clash with Al Ain.

According to the FA’s report, Naser spat at referee Yacoub Al Hamadi in what descended into a fraught final few minutes of the 1-1 draw, when Ahli were denied a penalty and had striker Carlos Munoz sent off.

Cosmin Olaroiu, the Dubai club’s coach, was also dismissed, has been fined Dh10,000 and warned about his conduct.

Ahli were penalised, too, and must pay Dh30,000 since six players were booked during the match, while they were fined another Dh20,000 after their fans directed offensive chants towards the match officials.

Focusing on Naser’s ban, Ahli released a strongly worded statement detailing plans to appeal the decision, saying they have “full faith that the FA will take the right course of action”.

Ahli placed much of the blame on media and insisted the club, who last season lifted both the league title and Arabian Gulf Cup, are being treated unfairly.

“This comes in the wake of unfair refereeing decisions and cheap and clear efforts, by presenters and television pundits, that aim to tarnish Al Ahli, its players and its management,” the statement said.

“At the same time there is little attention being paid, in the same provocative manner, to far clearer matters, which are ignored because Al Ahli are not a party to them. As long as the club is targeted, it would seem that it is the intention of some to turn public opinion against Al Ahli.

“The disciplinary committee’s punishments are nothing but an extension of the media campaign being waged against the club. Al Ahli is amazed that a punishment this extensive [against Naser] can be handed out without affording the player his legal right to defend himself.”

Ahli also criticised Al Hamadi’s performance in the Al Ain encounter.

The official made several contentious calls during the match, none more so than his failure to award Ahli what appeared to be a penalty in stoppage time.

In the immediate aftermath, Munoz was shown a second yellow card for simulation and sent off, while Olaroiu and Ahmed Shah, a member of the Ahli coaching staff, were sent to the stands because of their ­protests.

Ahli said the referee association’s commitment to stand by the decisions could prove “catastrophic” for the future of officiating in the UAE.

“Despite that, Al Ahli refused to lodge a complaint against the refereeing team and their harsh decisions, wisely preferring to look for the general good of the game and avoiding being part of pointless disagreements,” the statement said.

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