Al-Hilal have announced further legal escalation in their dispute with RS Berkane and the Confederation of African Football after receiving an official explanation for the rejection of their complaint regarding player eligibility in the CAF Champions League.
The Sudanese club confirmed on Saturday that it had received a formal letter from CAF’s Disciplinary Committee outlining the reasons behind the dismissal of its complaint against RS Berkane concerning the participation of Moroccan player Hamza Moussaoui in the quarter-final meeting between the two sides.
Following the receipt of the decision details, Al-Hilal announced that they would continue pursuing the matter through further appeals and legal action.
In a statement published through the club’s official channels, the management described the issue as a “just cause” and confirmed that an appeal had already been submitted to the competent authorities within CAF.
Al-Hilal accuse CAF committees of delaying proceedings
The dispute has now intensified after Al-Hilal publicly criticised CAF’s disciplinary structures and accused the governing body’s committees of deliberately slowing the process.
According to the Sudanese club, the lawyer assigned to the case argued that the Disciplinary Committee engaged in repeated procrastination during recent months, which the club believes affected its ability to fully exercise its legal rights during the litigation process.
The management claimed the delays hindered their opportunity to progress through all available stages of appeal in a timely manner.
Al-Hilal also confirmed that further legal filings would be submitted no later than Monday, 1 June, as part of the next phase of the case.
Club prepared to take case to CAS
The administration led by club president Hisham Al-Subat reiterated its determination to continue the legal process and reopen the dispute surrounding the match against RS Berkane.
In its statement, the club stressed that it would not abandon what it considers to be its legitimate rights and said it intended to pursue every legal avenue available.
The club also made clear that the case could eventually be referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if necessary, signalling the possibility of an extended international sports legal battle.
Al-Hilal stated that they remain committed to defending the club’s “rights and gains” and would continue proceedings until the “last stage of litigation”.
Dispute stems from Champions League elimination
The controversy began after Al-Hilal challenged the eligibility of Moussaoui to participate in the CAF Champions League quarter-final between the two clubs.
That tie ended with the Sudanese side being eliminated from the competition, prompting the club to submit an official complaint to CAF.
RS Berkane later advanced to the semi-finals before being knocked out by fellow Moroccan side FAR Rabat.
The Champions League title was eventually won by Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.
The latest developments indicate that the dispute is far from over, with Al-Hilal now preparing to intensify their legal campaign against both CAF and RS Berkane in an effort to overturn the disciplinary ruling.
As tensions continue to rise, the case could become one of the most closely watched legal disputes in recent African club football history.
