Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Four clubs have been sanctioned by the AFC Disciplinary Committee for crowd trouble in five recent AFC Champions League matches. The AFC Disciplinary Committee convened on June 12, 2015.
Al Ahli (KSA), Al Hilal (KSA), Al Nassr (KSA) and Persepolis (IRN) (twice) were all found to be in breach of article 67 of the AFC Disciplinary Code on spectator conduct. In four of these cases (Al Ahli (KSA), Al Hilal (KSA) and Persepolis (IRN) (in two matches)) the breach was a repeat infringement.
For Al Hilal (KSA), the decision means they will play the home leg of their ACL quarter-final match in August without spectators, as the club had already in November 2014 been ordered to play one match without spectators following spectator misconduct in the 2014 ACL Final second leg, should they reoffend within one year.
Al Ahli (KSA) and Persepolis (IRN) will have to play their next AFC club competition match without spectators if they breach the regulations on spectator conduct again within the next two years. All four clubs were also ordered to pay fines.
In addition to the disciplinary decisions related to spectator conduct, Persepolis (IRN) was also found to have breached the AFC Equipment Regulations in three separate ACL matches. Persepolis (IRN) were previously sanctioned for the same offence following Matchday 2 of the competition.
As the quarter-finals of the AFC flagship club competitions are approaching, the AFC would like to remind all parties that it takes disciplinary issues in its competitions very seriously. The AFC Disciplinary Committee is an independent body that deals with all cases in a firm but fair manner, applying the regulations in an equal way for all.
Please see below for further details of the six decisions.
Breaches of Art. 67 of AFC Disciplinary Code: Liability for spectator conduct
Al Ahli (KSA)
Match: May 27, 2015: Al Ahli (KSA) vs Naft Tehran (IRN)
Breaches: throwing missiles on to field of play and at tunnel after the match for approximately 11-12 minutes, causing cancellation of flash interviews and delayed exit of opponent team from field of play
Sanction: Fine of 20,000USD and one match to be played without spectators in AFC club competitions if the club is sanctioned for crowd disturbance again within the next two years.
Al Hilal (KSA) (qualified for AFC Champions League 2015 Knock-Out Stage)
Match: May 26, 2015: Al Hilal (KSA) vs Persepolis (IRN)
Breaches: throwing of missiles at opponent officials at start of match, at half time entry, and when opponent player was sent off
Sanction: Fine of 7,500USD and next match in AFC club competitions, i.e. the club’s ACL quarter-final match, played without spectators (as a result of suspended sanction from match played on November 1, 2014).
Al Nassr (KSA)
Match: May 6, 2015: Al Nassr (KSA) vs Lekhwiya (QAT)
Breaches: throwing missiles onto field of play and at tunnel after the match for approximately 6-7 minutes, causing cancellation of flash interviews and delayed exit of opponent team from field of play
Sanction: Fine of 10,000USD.
Persepolis (IRN)
Match: April 8, 2015: Persepolis (IRN) vs Al Nassr (KSA)
Breaches: lighting numerous incendiary devices before and during match, laser beams flashed at opponent players, numerous political banners displayed
Sanction: Fine of 18,000USD
Persepolis (IRN)
Match: May 19, 2015: Persepolis (IRN) vs Al Hilal (KSA)
Breaches: lighting numerous incendiary devices during and after match, lighting a fire during the match, throwing stones at opponent players, numerous political banners displayed
Sanction: Fine of USD30,000and one match to be played without spectators in AFC club competitions if the club is sanctioned for crowd disturbance again within the next two years.
Breach of Art. 6 of AFC Equipment Regulations
Persepolis (IRN)
Matches (3): March 17, 2015: Al Nassr (KSA) vs Persepolis (IRN); April 8, 2015: Persepolis (IRN) vs Al Nassr (KSA); May 6, 2015: Persepolis (IRN) vs Bunyodkor (UZB)
Breach: wearing unauthorised shirt sponsor on three separate occasions
Sanction: Fine of 40,000USD