The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially dismissed Al Hilal Omdurman’s complaint regarding the eligibility of Hamza El Moussaoui, clearing the way for RS Berkane to proceed to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League. This decision, conveyed to the Sudanese club on the same day, marks the conclusion of the disciplinary phase in a controversy that has garnered significant attention following the quarter-final clash between the two clubs.
At the heart of the matter is Al — Hilal’s contention that El Moussaoui should not have been allowed to participate in either leg of the quarter-final tie. The Sudanese club argued that the RS Berkane defender was associated with a positive anti-doping test conducted on January 24, which should have rendered him ineligible. Al-Hilal claimed that El Moussaoui tested positive for a banned substance, prednisone/prednisolone, on that date. The club further alleged that CAF imposed a 30-day suspension on March 11, only to have it lifted on matchday, allowing the player to play in both legs of the tie.
The Sudanese club expressed concerns about the transparency and clarity of the process that led to the suspension’s lifting. This was the crux of their complaint to the CAF Disciplinary Committee. However, after a thorough review, the committee upheld RS Berkane’s qualification, ensuring the Moroccan club’s place in the semi-finals against AS FAR.
Despite the ruling, the battle is far from over. Al-Hilal, in a swift and decisive move, has criticized the lack of transparency in CAF’s disciplinary process and has confirmed its intention to appeal to the CAF Appeals Committee. The club has not ruled out taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, should the appeal to the continental body fail to yield a satisfactory outcome.
Adding another layer to the conflict, Al — Hilal has requested that the semi-final match between RS Berkane and AS FAR be postponed until a final ruling is issued. The club fears that once the next round commences, it will be virtually impossible to rectify the competition bracket if the appeal is later upheld. As it stands, the decision by the CAF Disciplinary Committee has validated RS Berkane’s spot in the semi-finals, but the legal dispute remains unresolved and continues to simmer.
Source: moroccoworldnews
Original author: Farah Ben Gamra
