Al Wasl Football Club team bus attacked after game

DUBAI // A coach carrying players from Al Wasl Football Club was attacked as it left a stadium in Dubai last week.

According to the club’s official website and Twitter feeds, a window on the bus was smashed after the game against Al Ahli Club last Thursday, which Al Ahli won 2-1 to take the league title for the sixth time in the club’s history

However, Dubai Police said the bus was not attacked by rival fans at the ground.

“Fans did not assault the Al Wasl players’ bus after a match,” Brig Abdullah Al Ghaithi, head of the general directorate for the protection of infrastructure, facilities and emergencies at Dubai Police General Command told local Arabic language newspapers.

“The bus was intact when it left the Rashid Stadium, home to Al Ahli Club, and was secured until it left the premises. The attack took place outside the premises, where windows were shattered.

“At the end of the game, police officers set up safety fences in front of players’ exit gates to keep the public, who had left the stands, away from the players.

“We have reviewed footage taken by surveillance cameras. The video confirms that police officers in charge of security on the pitch completely and adequately performed their duties, because if any shortage occurs, those in charge will be held accountable for failure in implementing the plan set forth.”

Officials at Al Wasl FC did not file a complaint with police about the incident.