UAE Football Disciplinary Committee issues bans and fines after Al Wahda–Al Ain cup-final clashes
UAE Football Disciplinary Committee levies one-match suspensions and AED50,000 fines on Mansour Saleh and Alejandro Kaku after the Al Wahda–Al Ain cup final fracas, with additional youth match forfeits.
Summary of disciplinary rulings
The UAE Football Disciplinary Committee met and announced sanctions following disturbances in the Al Wahda–Al Ain cup final and breaches in youth competitions. The committee confirmed one-match suspensions and AED50,000 fines for two players involved in on-field assaults, and it enforced forfeits in two age-group fixtures. These measures were issued unanimously and published through the association’s official channels.
Sanctions imposed on senior players
Al Wahda forward Mansour Saleh received a one-match suspension and a fine of AED50,000 after being found to have assaulted an opponent during the final. The committee found the incident violated conduct regulations and applied the sanction in line with disciplinary procedures. The ruling means Saleh will miss his team’s next domestic fixture unless the club lodges an appeal under the association’s processes.
Al Ain’s Argentine attacker Alejandro Kaku was handed an identical penalty — a one-match ban and a AED50,000 fine — for a separate act of physical aggression in the same match. The committee treated both cases as similar breaches of player conduct, and the equal sanctions reflect that parity. The association noted that the sanctions were handed down following review of match reports and video evidence.
Events during the cup final
The cup final between Al Wahda and Al Ain ended with Al Wahda claiming the title after a penalty shootout, but the match was marred by pockets of disorder. Tensions rose late in the game and spilled into physical altercations between players, prompting intervention by match officials. The on-field disturbances drew criticism from supporters and renewed calls for stricter enforcement of conduct rules.
Match reports indicate the melee involved several players and required prompt action to prevent further escalation. The committee’s findings singled out the two players for individual disciplinary measures while noting the broader context of heightened tensions in a high-stakes final. Tournament organisers and both clubs now face scrutiny over matchday security and player management protocols.
Referee Sergey Ivanov’s intervention
Russian referee Sergey Ivanov is credited in official accounts with helping to contain the clashes and restore order on the pitch. According to the match dossier, Ivanov and his officiating team took immediate steps to separate participants and protect remaining players. The committee acknowledged the referee’s role while stressing that officiating decisions do not negate responsibility for violent conduct.
The disciplinary panel also reviewed the match officials’ report as part of its deliberations, weighing the timeline of events and the sequence of provocations. While no sanctions were announced against match officials, the association indicated it will continue to assess officiating performance in high-pressure fixtures.
Forfeits in youth competitions
Separately, the Disciplinary Committee awarded a 0-4 forfeit win to Dibba Al-Hisn over J Reds in an Under-16 fixture after J Reds were reduced to fewer than seven players during play. The committee applied competition rules that require a minimum number of players for a match to continue, and the result was adjusted accordingly. The decision underscores the importance of squad management and adherence to age-group competition regulations.
In the Under-15 (Group C) category, Falcons were handed a 0-3 loss to Ajman following a breach of substitution regulations. The committee found that the Falcons’ use of replacements violated the competition’s prescribed substitution protocol and therefore awarded the match to Ajman. These rulings close the disciplinary matters in the affected youth fixtures and serve as reminders about regulatory compliance at development levels.
Impact on clubs and upcoming fixtures
The immediate effect of the senior sanctions is the absence of each suspended player for his club’s next scheduled match, which could influence squad selection and match strategies. Both Al Wahda and Al Ain will need to adapt tactically while managing potential public and sponsor reactions to the incidents. The committee’s swift action signals an institutional priority to protect the integrity of competitions and discourage on-field violence.
For youth teams, the forfeits may alter standings and have knock-on effects for qualification scenarios in their respective age-group competitions. Clubs are likely to review internal procedures on player discipline and roster depth to avoid similar outcomes. The association’s measures also place emphasis on coaching staff responsibilities to ensure compliance with substitution and minimum-player rules.
The Disciplinary Committee stated the decisions were made following standard review procedures and published its outcomes through the governing body’s official notice. Clubs retain the right to pursue internal appeals under the association’s established framework, and the association indicated it will continue to monitor disciplinary trends across competitions.