When the Referee Is on Speed Dial: Shobeir Questions CAF’s Swift Ruling Over Ahly vs AS FAR Rabat

CAF Decision Sparks Debate

Egyptian media figure Ahmed Shobeir, a former goalkeeper for Al Ahly and the national team, launched a sharp critique of the African Confederation's statement about the Al Ahly vs AS FAR Rabat match, saying the speed of the ruling raises questions about neutrality.

He noted that CAF referred the incident to the disciplinary committee immediately after the final whistle, a pace he says did not mark similar cases before, pointing out that the first leg took three days before any official decision, despite prior sanctions on the Moroccan club that were not in effect.

He added that the swift referral to the disciplinary process felt, in his view, like a warning sign, and he claimed to have information about a tilt against Al Ahly that the coming days would reveal.

Shobeir stressed that he warned Al Ahly fans before the match to avoid any misconduct, urged strict discipline especially after qualification, and emphasized that the fans are essential to backing the team and that misbehavior could be used against the club.

He angrily questioned the value of warnings if individual actions could still lead to sanctions, even fines, and voiced concerns about a potential ban on in-person attendance.

The comments came as AS FAR Rabat escalated, saying it would pursue formal legal steps with CAF and calling for strong penalties, while Egyptian reports spoke of mutual provocations that complicated the narrative.

Punchline: If CAF wanted speed, they'd hire a cheetah. And in football as in life, the fastest verdicts often miss the offside.