Al Nasr fined Dh20,000, Al Ahli Dh5,000

Abu Dhabi — Al Nasr won the President’s Cup after a wait of 26 years. But it has come at a price. The Blue Wave, who defeated Al Ahli on penalties in the final at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, last Wednesday, have copped a fine from the UAE Football Association (UAE FA).

Al Ahli too were fined but will have to shell out much less than what Al Nasr will. Al Nasr were fined Dh 20,000 because their fans invaded the pitch to celebrate after the game. Security personnel had a tough time controlling the fans.

Meanwhile, Al Ahli were fined Dh 5,000 because their fans released balloons just before the start of the second half. The release of the balloons caused a delay in play.

The UAEFA’s disciplinary committee handed out the fines after a meeting. The decision to punish the two clubs came after a detailed report from the Match Commissioner Essa Ali Al Sarah as well as the General Co-ordinator Mustafa Hassan Altahri.

According to the report submitted to the disciplinary committee, it was said that the fans of Al Ahli had launched balloons inside the Hazza bin Zayed stadium before the start of the second half. That caused an unnecessary delay to the start of the half. Also, the Al Nasr fans ran onto the pitch at the end of the game.

Al Nasr had won the final 3-0 on penalties after regulation and extra-time had ended in a 1-1 draw. Al Ahli almost had the match in the bag after a first half header from UAE international Ahmed Khalil. But with a minute left in the game, Kwon Kyung Won deflected an Ahmed Ibrahim cross into his own goal, while trying to make a clearance.