Upholding Integrity: Hammoudan's Stance on CAF's Judicial Role
Incidents Marring the Match: Hammoudan's Plea for CAF's Equitable Adjudication
The recent encounters between Al Ahly and AS FAR in the final group stage of the CAF Champions League were overshadowed by various disruptions, prompting a significant statement from AS FAR Rabat's winger, Ahmed Hammoudan. His address underscored the necessity for the Confederation of African Football to uphold fairness and strictly apply its regulations to all parties involved.
Reciprocity in Regulations: Hammoudan's Demand for Consistent Enforcement
In an interview with Moroccan news outlet Al Botola, Hammoudan articulated his hope for a balanced application of rules. He stated, "I anticipate that the regulations will be enforced on them with the same rigor they were applied to us. The manner in which we were treated was not easily digestible."
He further elaborated, "We complied with CAF's verdict, despite its perceived severity. We accepted it with a spirit of fair play. Our current expectation is for a just and impartial ruling, ensuring that appropriate actions are taken as warranted."
Return Leg Turmoil: Projectiles and Unsportsmanlike Conduct
The second leg, hosted in Cairo, was unfortunately marked by spectators throwing water bottles at the Moroccan squad. This regrettable behavior appeared to be a retaliation for similar disturbances that occurred during the initial match played in Morocco.
The first leg itself was fraught with tension, notable for an incident where a sharp object was aimed at Al Ahly's Mahmoud Hassan "Trezeguet," alongside other items being thrown onto the playing field. Alarmingly, the subsequent match witnessed a repetition of these unsportsmanlike acts.
Despite the off-field controversies, the game concluded in a scoreless draw (0-0). Both teams ultimately advanced to the quarter-finals, with Al Ahly securing the top position in their group with 10 points, closely followed by AS FAR, who claimed second place with 9 points.