The UAE Football Association has backed Shabab Al Ahli after the Asian Football Confederation rejected the club’s protest over their AFC Champions League Elite semi-final defeat.
Shabab Al Ahli had asked for the match against Machida Zelvia to be replayed after a late equaliser was ruled out in Jeddah. The Dubai club lost 1-0, with Yuki Soma scoring the only goal for the Japanese side.
The main dispute came in stoppage time, when Guilherme Bala appeared to score for Shabab Al Ahli. The goal was disallowed after a VAR review, with referee Shaun Evans ruling that Machida Zelvia had not completed a substitution before the throw-in that led to the goal.
Shabab Al Ahli argued that the decision was a technical error and submitted an official protest. The AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee dismissed the request, according to the UAE FA statement.
The UAE FA said it would continue to stand with the club in any further steps taken to protect its rights. It also said it rejected the decision, which it described as unfair.
The ruling means Machida Zelvia’s place in the final stands. They are due to face Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli in Jeddah on Saturday, April 25.
The decision closes off the immediate route to a replay for Shabab Al Ahli.
