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 crucial equaliser for Shabab Al Ahli, potentially forcing extra time.
However, the goal was disallowed after the referee consulted VAR. The decision cited that play had resumed while Machida Zelvia were still in the process of making a substitution—rendering the sequence invalid.
The call sparked immediate outrage from the UAE side, with players confronting the match officials at full-time in search of clarification.
According to reports from several Arab media outlets, Shabab Al Ahli have since submitted an official complaint to the AFC, questioning both the interpretation and the application of the rules in the incident.
The club is demanding not only a full explanation but also pushing for the match to be replayed—an extraordinary request that, if granted, could have major implications for the competition.
Shabab Al Ahli Vice President Abdul Majeed Hussein confirmed that the protest was filed immediately after the match and emphasized that the club will await a formal response before taking further steps.
In a sign of the seriousness of the situation, Shabab Al Ahli’s squad and staff have not returned to the UAE. Instead, they remain in Jeddah, awaiting official communication from the AFC regarding the outcome of their appeal.
The result, as it stands, sends Machida Zelvia through to the final, where they are set to face defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC.
However, the protest introduces an element of uncertainty, with the potential—albeit rare—for disciplinary review or further investigation depending on AFC’s ruling.
Credit Photo : AFC
