FA hits Al Ain and Al Ahli with fines and suspensions after Super Cup fracas

Al Ain fined Dh107,000 and warned as to future conduct over behaviour of players, staff and fans at Super Cup

Mohammed Abdulrahman in action during a UAE national football team training session at Robina Stadium in Gold Coast, Australia, on December 28, 2014. Courtesy UAE FA

DUBAI // Fines totalling Dh192,000 have been levied on Al Ain and Al Ahli by the Football Association’s disciplinary committee for actions surrounding an ill-tempered Super Cup match last Friday.

The bulk of the fines were directed at Al Ain, who lost 1-0 through Salmeen Khamis's 86th-minute winner. They were fined Dh107,000 by the disciplinary committee after the panel met on Tuesday night.

Al Ain also were warned about the conduct of their supporters, who threw shoes and bottles of water onto the pitch towards the end of the match. Any future transgressions could result in the Arabian Gulf League leaders having to play selected home matches behind closed doors at a neutral venue.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Abdulrahman, the Al Ain midfielder, has had his initial one-match ban for a red card extended to four games. He was fined Dh50,000. Sent off in added time for barging referee Yaqoub Al Hammadi following his refusal to award Al Ain a penalty, Abdulrahman then directed offensive language at the fourth official. He was escorted from the pitch.

As part of the overall Dh107,000 penalty, Mohammed Obaid Hammad – the Al Ain first-team supervisor – and team manager Nasser Al Junaibi were fined Dh20,000 and Dh2,000, respectively.

Al Junaibi, who was sent to the stands as both benches were involved in a heated exchange, was also given a warning regarding his future behaviour.

Mohammed Obaid Hamdoun, an Al Ain board member, was fined Dh20,000 for reportedly using offensive language.

Ahli were punished, too, with coach Cosmin Olaroiu fined Dh30,000 after he was sent off following a verbal altercation with the Al Ain back-room staff.

Furthermore, both sides were charged Dh5,000 for failing to return on time for the second half of the encounter at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

Officials at the two clubs confirmed the fines to The National.

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