Saudi outfit Al-Hilal is trying to corner the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) into investigating the circumstances of its AFC Champions League loss to eventual winner Western Sydney Wanderers.
Angry Al-Hilal officials have lashed out, claiming controversial non-decisions cost the team six penalty calls over the two-leg final.
The club released a statement, saying the result robbed the Kingdom.
“[Decisions] that appeared suspiciously and tarnished the reputation of the AFC, which raised many questions about the AFC Championships and the integrity and fairness of its competitions, and the need to ensure the absence of any effect of betting offices scattered among football by assigning the competent authority in the Asian Confederation to start investigating seriously.”
“What happened in the second leg of the AFC Champions League final is a black spot in the history of Asian football, and looting of the right of an entire people who has been waiting for happiness and enjoyment of fair competition.”
Despite the club’s cries of foul play, Wanderers’ coach Tony Popovic was blunt in his response to Al-Hilal’s protests.
“To be honest, it doesn’t concern us,” he said. “Over two games and 180 minutes, they didn’t score and we did. We are the champions.”
Source: ABC, The Australian