Hefty fine and lengthy ban for Al Ahli’s Majed Naser is overturned by FA on appeal

The Football Association’s decision to ban Al Ahli goalkeeper Majed Naser for six months and to fine him Dh200,000 was overturned on Tuesday night by the appeal committee, the FA announced.

Naser had been hit on November 3 with one of the longest bans, as well as one of the heaviest fines, in FA history when he was found by the FA’s disciplinary committee to have spat at the referee, Yacoub Al Hamadi, at the conclusion of a contentious Arabian Gulf League match with Al Ain.

Naser had vowed to appeal the punishment. The FA decision on Tuesday to overturn the punishment was made without comment.

Abdulmajeed Hussain, the team director, said the turnabout was welcomed.

“We are pleased with this decision to overturn the sentence on Majed Naser because the original decision was based on mere speculation and insufficient and unconvincing evidence,” Hussain said.

“We are amazed that the player was not even called for a hearing and given a chance to defend himself before the ban and fine was imposed on him.

“But now we can put this episode behind us. Majed Naser will be available from the next game and he can now focus on the football.”

The match with Al Ain at the Rashid Stadium on October 27 ended with Ahli being fined on four fronts.

Naser was fined and banned, the club were penalised Dh30,000 because six of their players were booked during the match, and a Dh20,000 fine was imposed because their fans directed offensive chants at the referee.

Cosmin Olaroiu, the Ahli coach, was sent off late in the match and fined Dh10,000.

The fines on the club and Olaroiu still stand.

Ahli reacted strongly to the punishment, saying they represented “nothing but an extension of the media campaign being waged against the club”.

“This comes in the wake of unfair refereeing decisions and cheap and clear efforts by presenters and television pundits that aim to tarnish Al Ahli, its players and its management,” the club said.

The incidents occurred late in the match with Al Ain, whose rivalry with Ahli has heated up over the past three seasons.

In stoppage time, Carlos Munoz of Ahli was shown a second yellow card for simulation and sent off, while Ahli were convinced Munoz had earned a penalty.

Olaroiu expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision and was banished to the stands by the referee, as was Ahli assistant coach Ahmed Shah.

Ahli won the league last season but have struggled to replicate that form this season. They are joint fifth with Al Ain on 13 points, but their rivals have two matches in hand. Ahli are five points behind leaders Al Wahda.

Naser, 30, a former UAE international, has a history of bans and fines stretching back to 2001.

He is eligible to play in Ahli’s next match, a league game at home versus Emirates on November 30.

arizvi@thenational.ae

Follow our sports coverage on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE