CAIRO: Ahly coach Hossam Al-Badri blamed his side’s 1-0 loss at JS Kabylie on the home fans’ misconduct and the referee who officiated Sunday’s Champions League clash.
"The pressure we have been under before the game definitely took its toll on the players during the match," he told Nile Sport.
"Kabylie’s officials warmly received us in Algeria but their supporters’ behavior negatively affected us.
"The referee’s decisions were also unfair. For instance, he handed (Ahly midfielder) Hossam Ghaly a straight red card for no apparent reason."
The Red Devils have suffered their first defeat in Algeria since 1988 after losing 1-0 at JS Kabylie in a clash that witnessed an ugly brawl towards the end on Sunday.
Ahly appeared to have snatched a valuable equalizer when substitute Mohamed Shawky struck home with four minutes remaining.
The goal, however, was correctly ruled out for offside but a free-for-all erupted afterwards between Ahly’s players and the stadium’s security personnel.
Punches and kicks flew from both sides for no apparent reason, with some Kabylie players involved in the unfortunate incident.
The match, which was preceded by an attack on Ahly’s bus on Saturday, was halted for around eight minutes.
The Cairo side’s bus was stoned once again after the match, to further inflame feelings of Ahly’s supporters.
The second match will be held in Cairo on August 29.
