Court of Arbitration for Sport boots out FC Al Hilal appeal

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has rejected Al Hilal's appeal over an allegedly ineligible player which threatened to upset the AFC Champions League football final.

The Saudi club had raised alarm bells over the eligibility of Oussama Assaidi, who played for UAE's Al Ahli when they overcame Al Hilal in the semi-finals.

But the Swiss court rejected Al Hilal's complaint, upholding a ruling by the Asian Football Confederation appeal committee.

"Accordingly, the decision of the AFC Appeal Committee is confirmed and Al Ahli Club of the United Arab Emirates remains qualified for the 2015 AFC Champions League Final," CAS said in a statement.

Reasons were not immediately released for the decision, which clears Al Ahli to play Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande in the final's first leg on Saturday.

Source: AFP