DOHA: Qatar Stars League (QSL) giants Al Gharafa will appeal the decision of the QSL Disciplinary Committee which decided to ban Brazilian striker Nene for nine matches, it emerged yesterday.
Nene was also fined QR350,000, it was announced on Tuesday.
The Brazilian was involved in a brawl with Al Arabi’s Hussein Kharja during last week’s Qatar Stars Cup semi-final.
Kharja was fined QR380,000 and suspended for 10 matches.
Al Gharafa yesterday officials said it will appeal the decision which it said was ‘harsh’.
Club Secretary General Saeed Jassim Al Mansouri said: “We are surprised by the decision of the Disciplinary Committee. Suspending a player for nine matches is a little too harsh. Similar incidents have occurred and we didn’t see the guilty players then punished in the same way.”
In a report posted on www.qfa.com.qa website, he added: “Of course we are going to appeal the decision.”
The ugly incident occurred at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium where hundreds of fans witnessed the skirmish on the pitch.
Goals by Djordje Rakic (36) and Wanderley (85) helped Al Arabi stun Al Gharafa in the tense clash on March 19.
For the losers, Nene drilled a shot home from an acute angle in the 83rd minute.
Minutes later, Nene took a wild swing with his left hand and hit Kharja following a stoppage in play caused by red card to Al Gharafa’s Fahad Al Shammari for a rough foul on an Al Arabi player.
Nene and Kharja had been each other throughout the clash but in injury time tempers frayed once again as both players fell in a heap following a rough tackle seconds before the end of the match.
Just as referee showed the red card to Al Shammari, Marafee deliberately came in Nene’s walk towards the match official.
Kharja’s unwarranted soft shoulder charge at Nene ticked off the Brazilian who took a swing at the Al Arabi midfielder.
One swing from Nene created a commotion as players from both sides threw punches and kicks.
Seconds later, Marafee went for a kung-fu strike at Nene, a scene that was similar to Eric Cantona’s infamous kick at a Crystal Palace fan in 1995.
Both players were red carded by the referee. Nene joined Al Gharafa on a two-and-a-half-year deal in January.
THE PENINSULA
