The CAF Disciplinary Committee has officially dismissed the appeal of Al — Hilal Omdurman, confirming the eligibility of Hamza El Moussaoui and, consequently, RS Berkane’s qualification for the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League. This decision, conveyed to the Sudanese club on the same day, brings a temporary closure to a dispute that has garnered significant media attention since the quarter-final match between the two teams.
The controversy stemmed from Al — Hilal’s contention that El Moussaoui, the RS Berkane defender, should not have been permitted to play in either leg of the quarter-final tie. The Sudanese club alleged that El Moussaoui had a positive anti-doping test on January 24, which, according to them, should have rendered him ineligible. Al-Hilal further claimed that El Moussaoui tested positive for a banned substance, prednisone/prednisolone, on that date.
The club also pointed out that CAF imposed a 30-day suspension on March 11, just two days prior to the first leg of the tie. However, in what Al-Hilal termed as unexplained circumstances, the suspension was lifted on matchday, enabling El Moussaoui to participate in both legs. The Sudanese club criticized the lack of clarity and transparency in the process that led to the suspension’s lifting.
Despite the CAF Disciplinary Committee’s review and subsequent rejection of Al-Hilal’s arguments, the ruling upholds RS Berkane’s qualification for the semi-finals. This decision means that the Moroccan club will face AS FAR in the next round. Additionally, Al-Hilal’s request to reconsider the outcome of the quarter-final tie has been denied.
In response to the ruling, Al — Hilal has vowed to continue its legal battle. The club has criticized the lack of transparency in CAF’s disciplinary process and has confirmed its intention to escalate the matter to the CAF Appeals Committee. Furthermore, Al-Hilal has threatened to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne if the appeal at the continental level fails to provide the desired outcome.
The club has also requested that the semi — final match between RS Berkane and AS FAR be postponed until a final ruling is issued, arguing that it would be nearly impossible to rectify the competition bracket if the appeal is upheld after the next round has commenced. Despite the official ruling in favor of RS Berkane, the case appears to be far from resolved.
Source: moroccoworldnews
Original author: Farah Ben Gamra
