The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced its dismissal on Wednesday of Al Hilal's appeal regarding the Asian Champions League final, and Al Ahli "remains qualified" for the contest.
The court rejected the Saudi club’s claim that Oussama Assaidi of Ahli was ineligible to play in the semi-final of the Champions League, which Ahli won 4-3 on aggregate, thanks to a 3-2 second leg win in Dubai on October 20.
Hilal had filed their appeal against the Asian Football Confederation over the weekend, after the body ruled in favour of Ahli. The Riyadh club had sought a decision “in order to have its protest against Al Ahli Club upheld and a sanction of a 3-0 loss to Al Ahli applied to the match” read the CAS statement. However, “the decision of the AFC Appeal Committee is confirmed,” CAS said.
Hilal were contesting Assaidi’s participation in last month’s return fixture in Dubai, claiming the winger should not have been allowed to play as he had not been included in Ahli’s 2015/16 Arabian Gulf League squad. Last week, the Asian Football Confederation rejected Hilal’s case and subsequent appeal.
The announcement clears the way for Al Ahli to host the first leg of the final on Saturday night at the Rashid Stadium against Guangzhou Evergrande. The return leg is scheduled for November 21 in China.
Ahli are the first UAE team in the Asian continental club championship since Al Ain lost to another Saudi club, Al Ittihad, in 2005. Hilal contested the final last year, losing to Western Sydney Wanderers of Australia.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Netherlands v UAE, Twenty20 International series
Saturday, August 3 - First T20i, Amstelveen
Monday, August 5 – Second T20i, Amstelveen
Tuesday, August 6 – Third T20i, Voorburg
Thursday, August 8 – Fourth T20i, Vooryburg
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
