Saudi club Al Hilal have lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) arguing that AFC Champions League semi-final opponents Al Ahli fielded a player who was ineligible in their second leg match.
Al Ahli side won Thursday’s match 3-2 at the death, giving them an aggregate 4-3 win and a slot in the continental club final against Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande.
But Al Hilal appealed to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) that Al Ahli player Oussama Assaidi should not have been on the field.
Assaidi, formerly of Liverpool, entered the game as a second-half substitute. The Morrocan forward was excluded from Ahli’s Arabian Gulf League squad following the arrival of Senegalese striker Moussa Sow from Fenerbahce, although his registration within their Champions League squad is thought to still be valid.
That appeal was dismissed, leading Al Hilal to take their case to the CAS sports court of final appeal in Lausanne.
The Saudis are claiming the sanction should be a 3-0 loss for Al Ahli with Al Hilal proceeding to the final against the Chinese.
A final decision was expected to be issued no later than November 3.
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