Club World Cup: FIFA Threatens New Sanctions Against Al Ahly
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has denied permission for Al Ahly players to wear shirts bearing the number 72 during their warm-up before today’s Club World Cup semi-final match against Brazil’s Fluminense.
FIFA Rejects Al Ahly’s Number 72 Shirts
Al Ahly players have customarily worn these shirts in memory of the 72 fans who died in the 2012 Port Said disaster following a match against Al-Masry.
Al Ahly stated that it received a letter from FIFA regarding a violation for wearing these shirts before their match against Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad last Friday, which ended in a 3-1 victory. FIFA’s regulations prohibit wearing any attire with “religious, political, or personal messages for any reason.”
The African champion added, “Al Ahly’s delegation responded to FIFA, explaining the reasons behind wearing the number 72 warm-up shirts. However, FIFA confirmed that Al Ahly would face sanctions if it violates the international federation’s regulations.”
Al Ahly is set to play against Fluminense, the Copa Libertadores champions, in the 2023 Club World Cup semi-finals.
The Egyptian champions qualified to face Fluminense after their 3-1 victory over Al-Ittihad in the quarter-finals last Friday.
Marcel Koller, coach of Al Ahly, aims to secure a win against the Brazilian champions and advance to the World Cup final.
Al Ahly’s Squad for 2023 Club World Cup
– Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shenawy, young goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, and upcoming keeper Hamza Alaa.
– Defense: Mohamed Abdelmonem, Yasser Ibrahim, Rami Rabia, Khaled Abdel-Fattah, Akram Tawfik, Ali Maâloul, Mohamed Hany, Karim Fouad, and Karim El-Dabis.
– Midfield: Amr El-Sulaya, Aliou Dieng, Mohamed Magdi Afsha, Hussein El Shahat, Taher Mohamed Taher, Marwan Attia, Imam Ashour, and Ahmed Nabil Kouka.
– Attack: Anthony Modeste, Percy Tau, and Mahmoud Abdelmonem “Kahraba”.
The defeat of Al-Ittihad by Al Ahly deeply disappointed their fans, who had high hopes of advancing to the semi-finals of the World Cup.
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