CAIRO: Ahly will appeal the four-match suspension that was imposed on Hossam Ghaly by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the club said on Friday.
The central midfielder was handed the suspension after being sent off during Ahly’s 1-0 defeat at Algeria’s JS Kabylie in an ill-tempered African Champions League clash.
The reason for his dismissal, however, is still unknown.
"The club will appeal against Ghaly’s ban," Ahly football director Hadi Khashaba told FilGoal.com.
"We will support our cause with the match’s video footage, which clearly shows that Ghaly should not have been dismissed."
The 28-year-old was given his marching orders following an ugly scuffle that broke out with four minutes remaining before the end of the Group B game.
Ahly players became embroiled in a confrontation with the stadium’s stewards after having a goal correctly disallowed for offside. Ghaly’s role in the row was unclear.
The Egyptian champions, who are eyeing a seventh Champions League title, will host Kabylie at Cairo Stadium on Sunday.
"We will lodge our appeal against Ghaly’s suspension following the Kabylie game. We hope that CAF will lift the ban or reduce it," Khashaba added.
The suspension means the former Tottenham Hotspur man will miss Ahly’s remaining three Champions League group-stage ties.
He will also miss the first leg of the semi final if Ahly book a last-four berth in Africa’s premier club competition.
Ghaly joined the Red Devils in the close season after ending a spell with Saudi side Nassr. He usually partners Hossam Ashour in the heart of the team’s midfield.
