Abu Dhabi // Cosmin Olaroiu, the former coach of Al Ain Football Club, did not turn up in court on Sunday to appeal against his sentence for defamation because he was preparing for a match against them with his new club, Al Ahli.
The Romanian is appealing against a three-month suspended sentence and Dh21,000 fine when he was found guilty by the Misdemeanours Court in February for remarks he made during a press conference last November.
He had implied that Al Ain took money from him to buy shirts for the players.
“Cosmin is now in Al Ain to finalise pre-match procedures in preparation for today’s [Sunday] match against Al Ain Club, after the Court of Arbitration for Sport issued in the past few days a decision to lift the suspension penalty issued against the coach,” his lawyer told the Appeals Court.
The coach has been allowed back in the dugout as he appeals against a six-month ban for breaching his contract with Al Ain last summer.
The lawyer successfully asked for an adjournment until April 20 because Olaroiu will be busy with the Asian Champions League tournament next month.
Lawyers for Al Ain have asked for the maximum possible penalty and to issue a jail and deportation sentence against the football coach. The club is also suing for civil compensation.
If the verdict is upheld, the Civil Court will consider the appropriate compensation.
In the Court of First Instance, his lawyer argued that his client had already been punished when he was fined Dh100,000 by the UAE Football Association.
hdajani@thenational.ae
