Al Ahli have vowed to fight a six-month suspension handed to their coach Cosmin Olaroiu which threatens to derail a season that promises to deliver so much.
On the day the Arabian Gulf League leaders suffered their first defeat of the season – a shock 2-1 reverse at Al Wasl – they also learned of Olaroiu’s ban, enforced by the UAE Football Association following his ongoing dispute with former club Al Ain.
The Boss made a formal protest about Olaroiu’s summer switch to the Rashid Stadium, claiming he had breached a contract agreed with them in the summer.
And on Sunday night that complaint was upheld, with the Romanian now prohibited from working with the Red Knights squad until next June and fined Dh100,000.
The Boss, meanwhile, were also fined the same amount for failing to submit the contract between them and Olaroiu in a timely manner, which according to the rules should be within 20 working days.
The UAEFA’s Arbitral Tribunal have stated that their decision is final but Al Ahli board member Mansoor Lootah, who is also a lawyer who serves on the club’s legal board, told Dubai Sports TV that they will take the decision to the Court of Arbitration in Switzerland if necessary.
And following his side’s 2-1 defeat at the Zabeel Stadium, Olaroiu admitted he was baffled by this latest turn of events in the long-running saga.
“I don’t understand Al Ain, why they did this,” he said in his post-match press conference. “They know very well I don’t want to continue with them, I told them that. They were in Bucharest and they stayed with me and I told them I cannot continue.
“This will not affect my concentration nor my work. I will continue with my duties in the same way.
“I know the truth and nothing can affect me. I acted in a fair and correct way.”
The decision was announced during Sunday night’s match, but despite the league leaders suffering a poor second half display and conceding twice, Olaroiu says their defeat had nothing to do with the FA’s decision.
“I just found out now, after the match,” explained the Romanian.
Despite Olaroiu’s reluctance to accept his suspension, Abdelmeguid Hussein, the General Supervisor of the Ahli first team, said the club’s next course of action will depend on the findings of their legal department.
“We have to study this issue well and discuss it thoroughly and understand all the legal angles to it,” said Hussein.
“Our legal department will follow up on this and handle it diligently and if Cosmin has a right, he will get it and if the FA’s decision is correct then we will uphold it. It’s in the hands of our legal department now.”
