Ahli are set to file an official complaint to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) against the Malian referee who was in charge of their match against Sfaxien in the African Champions League, coach Hossam Al-Badri said. Malian referee Coulibaly Koman said in his report that Ahli's Emad Meteb and Shadi Mohamed tried to assault him after the game that ended in a 1-0 defeat for the title holders, leaving the pair facing a one-game ban and $1,000 fine each. "We will contact CAF to know the rationale behind the penalties because they seem unreasonable," Al-Badri told FilGoal.com. "A file that includes the referee's dreadful errors during the game is also being prepared to be attached with the complaint."
Shadi Mohamed Just a few hours after the penalties were issued on Monday, Shadi said he was shocked and stressed he had no role in the post-game incidents. "I haven't even had any contact with the referee because I was on the bench for the whole game," he said. "There were some players who confronted the referee after the game but I wasn't among them as I rushed to the dressing room after the final whistle." But the ban is unlikely to be lifted and Ahli will have to play Algeria's JS Kabylie in Cairo on July 29th without the duo.