Ibrahima Toure, the Al Nasr striker, has been fined Dh200,000 by the Football Association’s Disciplinary Committee and suspended for four matches following his red card against Baniyas on Monday.
The Senegalese striker was sent off in his side’s opening 2014/15 Arabian Gulf League fixture when he struck Mohammed Jaber in the face, an action that bloodied the Baniyas defender and ended his participation in the encounter.
Toure has since apologised to Jaber, Baniyas and Nasr, with the Dubai club also issuing the forward with a fine in accordance with their code of conduct. The Disciplinary Committee’s four-game ban – two for the red card and two for violent conduct – begins with immediate effect.
Understandably, Nasr did not view lightly the transgression and have made it clear to Toure that his future behaviour must be exemplary. As the club’s top scorer last season – he managed 16 league goals after a summer move from Monaco in France – Toure’s contribution is integral to their chances of a top-four finish this campaign.
However, given Toure returned late to pre-season in July, and his red card against Baniyas, Nasr could seek to sell or loan him during the January transfer window. They insist Ivan Jovanovic, the coach, will take the final decision. Toure has three years remaining on his contract.
“Of course, this can’t happen again,” said Fahad Hadi, a member of the club board. “We took a very, very strong action in fining him, but releasing the player is not an option. It is not the time right now.
“Maybe in January we will see what happens. Everything is dependent on the manager’s report - he will give us that when the time comes to say if he’s interested in replacing any of the players. Right now, Toure will stay and will be fined and that’s it. No further action will be taken.
“He met with the player and apologised to him, as well as apologising to Baniyas and to us, the club. Everything was done perfectly.”
Toure's absence is an obvious blow for Nasr, although Ivan Trickovski, the Macedonian striker signed this summer from Belgium's Club Brugge, is available for selection for Sunday's home match against Sharjah. Trickovski missed the Baniyas match through injury.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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