The paths of these two stars have intersected on several occasions due to their association with the luxury brand Bulgari
entertainment7 hours ago
Al Ahli may have merged with Al Shabab and Dubai FC to form one entity called 'Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club,' but the Red Knights will have to continue to play as Al Ahli for the remainder of the AFC Champions League this season, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Thursday.
Al Ahli, runners-up in 2015 to Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande, are in the Round of 16 in the Asian competition after topping Group A in the pool stage. They are set to take on their namesake from Saudi Arabia over two legs next week and the week after.
Al Ahli are away in Jeddah on May 22 before entertaining Al Ahli at home on May 29.
To a query from the Khaleej Times, the AFC said that the Club Competition Regulations does not permit a change of name but did add that in terms of players, the club could go in for reinforcements during the new player registration window in August, if the team reaches the quarterfinals.
"The Club Competition Regulations do not permit a change of name," the AFC said in an e-mail on Thursday.
"Should merged clubs reach the last eight, there is a new player registration window in August which will allow the nomination of new players," the AFC added.
It means that Al Ahli will have to go it alone and under the same name in the Round of 16 and beyond. But they could add new players during the August window if they progress to the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, there is also a question mark on Al Ahli or Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club's participation in next season's AFC Champions League. The Red Knights had finished third in the Arabian Gulf League to earn a playoff spot in next year's continental competition.
With the club now being rebranded as Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club, the AFC said that while the clubs can register for next year's AFC Club Competitions, an independent body will make a ruling on their participation.
"Clubs can register in September for the 2018 AFC Club Competitions. If they have not been in existence for three years in their current entity the Independent Entry Control Body will make a ruling on their eligibility," the AFC said.
The Independent Entry Control Body was formed at the end of last year to rule on eligibility of clubs for AFC Competitions.
Al Ahli, Shabab and Dubai FC are not the only clubs to have merged. Qatar Stars League champions Lekhwiya and El Jaish were merged last month to form Al Duhail.
james@khaleejtimes.com
The paths of these two stars have intersected on several occasions due to their association with the luxury brand Bulgari
entertainment7 hours ago
The students' demands range from a ceasefire in Israel's war with Hamas to calls for universities to stop investing in Israeli enterprises
world7 hours ago
Despite Kohli's flowing form ahead of the T20 World Cup in June, pundits have raised concerns over his strike-rate
cricket7 hours ago
Saudi Arabia has begun to explore extracting lithium from sea water
business8 hours ago
Speaking after meeting Lebanese leaders, French foreign minister says there had been "a lot of progress" over the French proposals
mena8 hours ago
The three-shot winner from Japan says he is aiming to become a member of the PGA Tour in the future
sports8 hours ago
Big-hitting Nienaber falters at the finish to settle for secondwhile former Abu Dhabi resident David Horsey takes the third spot at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
sports8 hours ago
The UAE is India's second-largest export destination after the US
economy8 hours ago