DUBAI // Adnan Hussain, the Al Ahli midfielder, says he is “psychologically destroyed” that he could have inadvertently caused the Arabian Gulf League leaders to be docked three points.
The Emirati, who has been used primarily as a substitute this season, came off the bench in Friday’s 3-1 victory against Al Dhafra, despite being ineligible to play.
Hussain was supposed to serve a one-match suspension as he had previously collected three yellow cards – the third came against Ajman on December 26 – in the accumulative process that ensures a player is banned from his side’s next fixture.
However, Ahli announced on their website on Sunday that they had realised a “technical error” had been made by the first-team secretary, who had failed to notify the team’s management that Hussain was not permitted to play.
The matter has been passed to the Football Association’s Disciplinary Committee, who will meet on Monday to discuss the punishment.
The result of the match is expected to be overturned and changed to a 3-0 win for Dhafra.
That would cut Ahli’s six-point lead over second-placed Al Shabab to three, which would be a serious blow to their title-winning credentials.
Hussain has apologised for not recognising he was supposed to sit out the Dhafra match, citing the extended time in between that game and the Ajman encounter.
“The news of Al Ahli being stripped three points as a result of an administrative mistake has psychologically destroyed me,” he said.
“Especially that this is the second time my name has been linked to such a controversy, the first being when I played against Al Wahda at the start of the season, although in that case I was innocent as the club had not received any official notification of any ban on me.”
With the Ahli statement offering an apology to both the “club’s hierarchy and to our loyal fans”, Abdullah Al Naboodah, the chairman, has already told the players not to dwell on the possible points deduction.
He also urged Cosmin Olaroiu’s side to maintain the form that had seen them pull clear at the top of the table – they have been beaten just once this season – something Hussain was keen to echo.
“I tell my colleagues to cling to the fighting spirit that produced the outstanding performance against Al Dhafra, and to the strong desire to win and not give up any single point,” he said.
“I have complete faith in my teammates’ abilities to make up the lost points, we are one family and we must show strength in this situation.
“We are still half way through it and it will get tougher but, Ahli are up to the responsibility always and we maintain our ambitions to challenge and win titles, and to make our fans happy.”
Midfielder Prediger to replace Marcelinho at Baniyas
Sebastian Prediger, the Argentine defensive midfielder, has signed a deal with Baniyas after turning down offers from Estudiantes and the Mexico club Atlante.
Prediger, 27, playing for Colon in the Argentina Primera Division, will be replacing the Brazilian Marcelinho in Jorge da Silva’s line-up.
The Brazilian striker Jose Rogerio has also arrived in the country and has started training with Al Dhafra after passing his medicals. The 23 year old comes on loan from Brazilian club Nautico and will replace the Ghanaian Emmanuel Clottey in the line-up.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
