Appeal window still open for Al Ain
dubai — Al Ain, one of the most storied clubs in the UAE top flight, could still feature in the AFC Champions League next season if they successfully appeal against the Pro League Committee’s (PLC) First Instance Body decision on club licensing.
Al Ain, the inaugural champions of the Asian competition in 2003 and runners-up in 2005 and 2016, were denied entry to next season’s continental showpiece after the club failed to fulfil club licensing guidelines. Clubs that have gained qualification to the 2018 AFC Champions League must obtain club licensing to be eligible for participation in the competition.
The First Instance Body reviewed its final report and the body decided to deny Al Ain, Bani Yas, Dibba, Ittihad Kalba and Hatta licensing after they failed to meet some of the regulations’ criteria. The newly-merged Shabab Al Ahli Dubai’s application was dismissed as the club does not meet the licensing system conditions.
The First Instance Body also decided to grant licensing for the 2017-18 cycle to five clubs — Al Dhafra, Al Nasr, Al Wasl, Emirates and Sharjah — who met all club licensing regulations criteria. The First Instance Body decided to grant Al Jazira and Al Wahda provisional licensing.
Al Ain had actually missed out on a spot in the AFC Champions League for the first time in years after finishing fourth in last season’s Arabian Gulf League (AGL). But the Garden City club had managed to sneak in after Al Ahli, who had finished third in the AGL, were excluded after the newly-merged club hadn’t been in existence for three years, a requirement by the AFC.
The PLC said that Clubs that have failed to obtain the license can appeal the First Instance Body decision within five working days from the date of receiving notification of the decision.
Meanwhile, the PLC clarified the mechanism upon which the decisions were based.
“The Asian Football Federation (AFC) implemented the club licensing system with the beginning of the 2012-13 season as a mandatory requirement to participate in the AFC Champions League. The Emirati clubs licensing regulations were drafted based on AFC guidelines, the regulations constitute the base working document for licensees (clubs),” the PLC said in a statement.
“With the start of the 2016-17 licensing season, the AFC created the Club Licensing Administrative System (CLAS) which serves as a portal to upload documents and evidences to the PLC before the stipulated deadlines announced in the main process. The AFC monitors all domestic league committees’ compliance with the licensing system through CLAS. The AFC also conducts spot checks to league committees to ensure constant compliance to the AFC licensing system,” the statement added.
james@khaleejtimes.com