The CAF Disciplinary Committee officially rejected the complaint filed by Al Hilal Omdurman over the alleged ineligibility of Hamza El Moussaoui, confirming RS Berkane’s qualification for the semi-finals.
The decision, formally communicated to the Sudanese club today, brings an end, at least for now, to the disciplinary phase of a dispute that has dominated headlines since the CAF Champions League quarter-final between the two sides.
The case is about Al-Hilal’s claim that El Moussaoui should not have been allowed to play in either leg of the quarter-final tie.
The Sudanese club argued that the RS Berkane defender had been linked to a positive anti-doping test dated January 24 and therefore should have been ruled ineligible.
Al-Hilal claimed that El Moussaoui tested positive for a banned substance (prednisone/prednisolone) on January 24. According to the Sudanese club, CAF later imposed a 30-day suspension on March 11, just two days before the first leg.
However, in what Al-Hilal described as unexplained circumstances, the suspension was lifted on matchday, allowing the player to feature in both legs. The club questioned the process behind that decision, describing the lifting of the suspension as unclear and lacking transparency.
This formed the basis of its complaint before the Disciplinary Committee.
After reviewing the case, the CAF Disciplinary Committee rejected Al-Hilal’s arguments, effectively validating RS Berkane’s place in the semi-finals.
The ruling means that the Moroccan club remains qualified for the next round, where it is due to face AS FAR.
The decision also dismisses Al-Hilal’s request to revisit the outcome of the quarter-final tie.
Al-Hilal to continue legal fight
The Sudanese club reacted immediately, strongly criticizing what it described as a lack of transparency in CAF’s disciplinary process.
Al-Hilal has confirmed that it will now escalate the matter to the CAF Appeals Committee, keeping the legal dispute alive.
The club has also renewed its threat to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne if it fails to obtain what it considers justice at the continental level.
In addition, Al-Hilal has asked that the semi-final between RS Berkane and AS FAR not be played until a final ruling is issued, arguing that once the next round begins, it would become nearly impossible to correct the competition bracket if the appeal is later upheld.
Although CAF’s Disciplinary Committee has now officially ruled in favor of RS Berkane, the case doesn’t seem over just yet.
