US EditionUAE FA Throws Support Behind Shabab Al Ahli in AFC Champions League Referee Row
Yuki Soma’s first-half goal sent tournament debutants Machida Zelvia into Saturday’s final against defending champions Al-Ahli after a VAR-disputed 1-0 win.
- On Tuesday, Japanese club Machida Zelvia advanced to their first Asian Champions League Elite final with a 1-0 victory over United Arab Emirates club Shabab Al-Ahli in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Yuki Soma secured the tournament debutants' victory with a 12th-minute strike, capitalizing on a defensive error from the Emirati side after winning possession inside the penalty area.
- Referee Shaun Evans disallowed a potential 92nd-minute equalizer from Shabab after a lengthy VAR review determined play had restarted before a substitution was completed.
- Shabab Al-Ahli coach Paulo Sousa criticized the officiating as "a very technical mistake," while the UAE Football Association expressed "strong solidarity" with the club and backed their AFC complaint.
- Machida Zelvia now faces defending champions Al-Ahli Saudi in Saturday's final in Jeddah, where the winner will claim the continent's premier club title.
12 Articles
12 Articles
UAE football body backs Shabab Al Ahli after controversial AFC semi-final defeat
UAEFA urged the Asian Football Confederation to appoint qualified refereeing teams at both club and national‑team levels and to keep pace with technological developments in the game
On Tuesday, Machida Zelvia qualified for the final of the Champions League...
Shabab Al Ahli File Official Protest, Demand Replay Semi-Final
Shabab Al Ahli have officially protested with the Asian Football Confederation(AFC) following a dramatic and controversial conclusion to their AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 semi-final clash against Machida Zelvia. The club has gone a step further—formally requesting a replay of the match after a decisive VAR ruling denied them a stoppage-time equaliser. The controversy erupted in the 90+3 minute when Guilherme Bala appeared to have scored a…
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