Al-Sairy: Al-Ain goalkeeper is the main reason for the events... and mutual apologies from the players

The riots disturb the atmosphere of the "Classico"... Asmaa Rahimi, Issa and Matar are at the fore

Al Ain beat Al Wahda 1-0 at the top of the 19th round.

Photography: Eric Arrasas

The match between Al Wahda and Al Ain, the day before yesterday, in the 19th round of the ADNOC Professional League, witnessed violent incidents and riots immediately after its end, in which Asmaa Sufian Rahimi, Khaled Issa and Ismail Matar topped, and ended with Al Ain winning 1-0, to continue to top the league standings by seven points from Unit.

According to video clips circulated, Al Ain player, Moroccan Sofiane Rahimi, carried the flag bearing the Al-Wahda logo, and headed towards the stands of Al Annabi fans, who exploded in anger, prompting some of them to go to the pitch and attack him, and his teammates, Khaled Issa and Eric.

Khaled Issa also carried his club's scarf, and celebrated the victory over Al Annabi in a way that prompted Ismail Matar to beat him, to stop his celebrations, which Matar said in press statements: "It did not respect the feelings of Al Wahda fans and players."

For his part, Al Wahda Club board member, Amer Al Sa'iri, blamed Sufian Rahimi and Khaled Issa for the events that occurred after his club's match against Al Ain.

He said in a press statement after the match: "We have a great blame for Sufian Rahimi and Khaled Issa, and I consider that the Al Ain goalkeeper is the main and direct reason for all the events that took place on the field, with his demands of his colleagues to celebrate in front of Al Wahda fans."

He added: "Khaled Issa has the right to celebrate his team's victory, and we do not deprive him of his right to that, but we stand only in front of the way he celebrates in front of the Al-Wahda fans, which was monitored by the videos that spread after the match. In the end, we respect Khaled Issa as a guard who has artistic value, whether With Al Ain club or the national team, and we blamed him for having played many El Clasico matches and knew the importance and sensitivity of that match to the fans of the two clubs, and he should have been aware of some things that would anger the fans.”

Al-Sa'iri refused to disclose the unit's escalatory position on these events, pointing out that the club's board of directors will meet in the coming hours to take the position it deems appropriate.

For his part, Khaled Issa apologized to the fans and players of Al-Wahda, and team leader Ismail Matar.

Issa said in a press statement after the meeting: “What happened after the match is unfortunate and sad at the same time, in all honesty, everyone bears the mistake that happened. It happened on my part, and I apologize to them.”

He added: "To celebrate the victory and carry the flag of Al Ain Club after the victory, this is my right, and Khaled Issa did not invent this matter, it is something we see in most European leagues."

He pointed out: "I hope that the videos spread will be accurate so that they can see how I stopped the way of Sufian Rahimi's celebration, by carrying the banner of Al-Wahda Club, and asking him not to offend the fans of Al-Wahda, but unfortunately Ismail Matar got confused, and he understood the issue wrongly, and I understand his anger after the loss."

The Al-Ain goalkeeper explained: “Never was our celebration intended to provoke the feelings of the fans. We have the right to celebrate the result of an important match like this. We may be blamed if there is a generalization that has been issued that does not give us the right to celebrate on the pitch. It is my right to celebrate, and it is My teammates have the right to celebrate the result of the match.”

In the same context, Sufian Rahimi stressed that he did not know that carrying the corner kick flag symbolized the Al Wahda club shirt.

He said in a press statement: “I just wanted to celebrate the victory, and I did not mean anything to hurt the feelings of the Al-Wahda fans. What happened after the match is really unfortunate, I was physically abused by a fan, but these are things that happen in matches, and what spread through Social media, including videos, carried some exaggerations, and I do not care about it, and the Al-Wahda audience remains a large audience, and it has our respect and appreciation, but the match was charged, given its importance in the two teams’ journey in the league.”

Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution orders the arrest of rioters

Abu Dhabi ■ WAM /

The Public Prosecution in Abu Dhabi issued an order to seize and bring all rioters in the football match, which brought together Al Ain and Al Wahda teams, the day before yesterday.

And the Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution affirmed that it will respond firmly in accordance with the established legal procedures, to everything that would cause riots or violate the law, regulations and regulations, stressing the need for sportsmanship among club fans, and not to endanger the lives and safety of others.

She pointed out that the law in the UAE imposes protection for all individuals, and sets strict penalties for violating specific laws and regulations in such cases, in order to ensure the security and safety of members of society.

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