Al Hilal accuses RS Berkane of fielding player who should have been suspended

Al Hilal Omdurman have officially accused RS Berkane of fielding a player who should have been suspended during their CAF Champions League quarter-final tie, raising serious concerns over competition integrity.

The Sudanese side were eliminated after a 1-1 draw in Morocco followed by a 1-0 defeat in the return leg, resulting in a 2-1 aggregate loss.

Doping Allegations

In an official statement released on Monday, Al Hilal claimed that RS Berkane player Hamza Moussaoui participated in the matches despite being subject to a suspension for a doping violation.

According to the statement, the player had previously tested positive for a substance listed on the banned list of the World Anti-Doping Agency. The club added that Moussaoui was formally notified of the positive result and waived his right to request a “B” sample analysis—effectively confirming the “A” sample findings.

Al Hilal further referenced Article 6.2 of FIFA anti-doping regulations, stating that no therapeutic use exemption or legal justification had been presented, which should have resulted in a suspension.

Controversial Participation

The Sudanese club argued that the player’s suspension—reportedly set at 30 days—was lifted prior to the matches, allowing him to feature in both legs against Al Hilal, a decision they described as a “serious violation of competitive integrity.”

The club emphasized that Moussaoui had a direct impact on the outcome of the first leg on March 14, 2026, winning a decisive penalty in stoppage time that led to RS Berkane’s equalizer in the 1-1 draw.

Formal Complaints Filed

Al Hilal confirmed that they had submitted two official protests regarding the player’s participation before both matches, in accordance with regulations, handing them to match commissioners prior to kickoff.

Call for Investigation

The club expressed their belief that football must be played under fair and equal conditions.

In conclusion, the Sudanese club announced that they have formally requested to be part of the disciplinary proceedings and will pursue all necessary steps to ensure a full investigation and achieve justice and maintain the integrity of competition.

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