Al Ahly have taken official action against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after the postponement of an appeal hearing concerning a ban on their supporters, just days before a decisive CAF Champions League match against Esperance of Tunisia.
The Egyptian club confirmed that it had submitted a formal protest to CAF, insisting on its right to have the appeal heard before the quarter-final second leg scheduled for Saturday at Cairo International Stadium.
The dispute comes at a critical time for Al Ahly, who are preparing to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against the Tunisian side.
Appeal Hearing Postponed
According to the club, the controversy began when it received notification from CAF regarding the scheduling of the appeal hearing.
The session had initially been set for 11:00 am but was later postponed to 1:00 pm on the same day. However, Al Ahly said it subsequently received a second notification stating that the hearing had been postponed indefinitely.
The delay has raised concerns within the club, particularly given the proximity of the return leg against Esperance.
Club Submits Formal Protest
In response, Al Ahly announced that it had sent an official protest to CAF, objecting to the decision to delay the appeal.
The club described the move as urgent, stressing that the appeal relates directly to a penalty that would prevent its supporters from attending the upcoming match.
Al Ahly argued that the timing of the postponement undermines its ability to resolve the issue before the fixture takes place.
Demand for Application of Regulations
In its protest, the club called on CAF to apply its regulations and ensure that the appeal process is completed in a timely manner.
Al Ahly maintained that the right to appeal is guaranteed and should be exercised before the next match, particularly in a high-stakes competition such as the CAF Champions League.
The club also questioned the severity of the sanction imposed on it, noting that the punishment followed an incident involving supporters throwing water bottles onto the pitch.
According to Al Ahly, the offence occurred for the first time during the tournament and should have resulted in a gradual penalty rather than a full ban.
Call for Partial Fan Attendance
Al Ahly further requested that CAF reconsider the decision and allow at least a portion of supporters to attend the match.
The club pointed out that similar incidents involving other African teams had led to partial attendance restrictions rather than complete bans.
It also emphasised that its supporters had not committed similar offences throughout the competition, except during a previous match against Morocco’s Royal Army at the end of the group stage.
Crucial Match Approaches
The dispute comes as Al Ahly prepare to host Esperance on Saturday, March 21, at 10:00 pm Cairo time in the second leg of the quarter-finals.
With qualification to the semi-finals at stake, the Egyptian side faces mounting pressure both on and off the pitch.
Having lost the first leg by a single goal, Al Ahly will need a strong performance in Cairo to progress in the competition.
Focus on Resolution
As the match approaches, Al Ahly continue to press for a swift resolution to the issue, insisting that the appeal must be heard before kick-off.
The club has reiterated its position that fairness and adherence to regulations are essential, particularly in determining whether its supporters will be allowed to attend one of the most important matches of its season.
