Al Ain, UAEFA face penalties
dubai — Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ain and the UAE Football Association (UAE FA) may face penalties from the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) if they do not field their international players in the Arab Club Champions Cup.
The Arab Club Champions Cup began on Tuesday night with Al Ain taking on Algerian club Entente Sportive de Setif in the first leg in the Croatian capital of Zagreb. And although The Boss fielded some of their UAE internationals during the game, their participation for the second leg on Saturday is in doubt as these players have been called up by National team coach Alberto Zaccheroni for the first camp in Salzburg, Austria in preparation for the AFC Asian Cup.
The UAFA is not pleased that the UAE camp clashes with the tournament and has taken a rather tough stand regarding the participation of international players. The UAFA has warned Al Ain and the UAE FA about strict penalties if the second leg fixture does not feature these players.
“UAFA shall duly impose penalties against Al Ain FC and UAE FA based on the fact that there was legal time limitation of 60 days for the UAEFA representative to select the dates of the UAE National Team matches prior to the Secretary General signing the calendar of the Arab Club Champions Cup,” Talal Al Al-Sheikh, Advisor to the Chairman of the Union of Arab Football Association and the Director of the Arab Club Champions Cup, told Abu Dhabi Sports as reported
The Arab Club Champions Cup means something for us along with all athletes in the UAE and it is absolutely a very important championship Talal Al Al-Sheikh, Advisor to the Chairman of UAFA
by Al Ain FC’s official website, on Wednesday.
Talal Al Al-Sheikh said that the competition regulations state that all participating clubs are to play all their matches including their international players. He reiterated that the UAFA adopts a zero tolerance policy for violations and hoped that the UAE FA will resolve the matter.
“The Arab Club Champions Cup means something for us along with all athletes in the UAE and it is absolutely a very important championship,” he added.
Al Ain coach Zoran Mamic had said before the tournament that the scheduling of the Arab Club Champions Cup was far from ideal as it clashed with The Boss’ pre-season training camp. To make matters worse, he would miss a flurry of players due to the UAE camp as well as the UAE Olympic team’s sojourn at the Asian Games in Indonesia.
Goalkeeper Khalid Eisa, Ismail Ahmed, defenders Mohammed Ahmed, Bandar Al Ahbabi, midfielders Ahmed Barman, Amer Abdulrahman and Rayan Yaslam, who have been called up by Zaccheroni, played during the first leg which Al Ain lost 2-1.
Al Ain went ahead through Ibrahim Diaky, with the veteran scoring from a penalty on 22 minutes. But Entente Sportive de Setif cancelled that out through Abdelmoumene Djabou just four minutes before the break. Djabou then scored the winner with nine minutes left on the clock.
Two-time League champions Al Jazira as well as Al Wasl are also competing in the Arab Club Champions Cup, which concludes on April 28, 2019.