Cosmin Olaroiu, the Al Ahli manager, has the option of appealing his six-month ban with Fifa or the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
On Monday, the Romanian was handed a six-month ban and fined Dh100,000 by the Football Association's arbitration panel over his abrupt summer switch from Al Ain to Al Ahli. Officials earlier benched Olaroiu for three games and fined him the same amount for "showing a lack of commitment" toward his contract with Al Ain.
In the summer, Olaroiu turned down a contract extension with the two-time defending Arabian Gulf League (AGL) champions and chose to sign a three-year deal with Ahli.
Al Ain took the matter to the arbitration panel, claiming they had a written commitment from the Romanian, and according to Al Ittihad, the committee based its decision on a clause in the contract Al Ain brought forward.
The coach was barred from negotiating with, transferring to or coaching any other team as long as he was legally bound by contract to Al Ain. The group ruled that Olariou signed with Al Ahli while his contract with Al Ain was in effect.
Dr Yousuf Al Sharif, head of the FA’s arbitration committee, acknowledged the penalty was harsh – it represents the longest suspension handed down to an AGL coach – but said it was “meant to be a deterrent to everyone operating in sports,” he said. “It was taken in accordance with laws and regulations. Parties, whether they be players or coaches, are required to commit to their side of any agreement with any sports institution.”
Al Sharif said Olaroiu will still be involved, albeit less visibly, with Al Ahli.
“The penalty states that he be suspended from accompanying his team to the field for the [length of the ban],” Al Sharif said.
Responding to a question about discrimination between Emiratis and non-Emiratis, he told Al Ittihad: “Matters are different in this case. When a non-Emirati is banned from playing or coaching here, they could still go back to their home countries or to any other place, whereas Emirati players and coaches don’t have the same options available to them.”
Yousuf Abdullah, the FA general secretary, said Olaroiu and Al Ahli have the right to take any appeal to the highest authorities.
“Since the coach is a foreigner, international regulations stipulate that he is entitled to resort to Fifa or to CAS,” Abdullah said. “The coach is affiliated with a foreign federation, not the local federation.” Ahli have yet to comment publicly on the case, while Olaroiu, who learnt of the ruling after his side’s 2-1 defeat on Monday night, expressed surprise and said, “I don’t understand why they [Al Ain] are doing this”.
Abdullah Mohammed Al Harmoudi, speaking on Al Ain’s behalf, said the club would deal with the issue through legal channels.
He told Al Ittihad: “We filed a complaint with the relevant committee that made its decision. We appealed, not because we were seeking financial gains, but to counter contract violations.
“The final decision preserves Al Ain’s rights with regards to the contract. Regarding the club’s financial rights, there are still several steps ahead for us as per the rules and regulations.”
Asked whether the case was closed in their eyes, he said: “We have several steps available to us ... and we shall use all the available legal options at our disposal.”
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