CAF Champions League: Al Ahly challenges Nejc Gradisar red card after controversial clash

Al Ahly has lodged an official appeal with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to contest the red card shown to forward Nejc Gradisar during their CAF Champions League return fixture against Burundi’s Aigle Noir.

The incident occurred just 16 minutes into the match at Cairo International Stadium, where Senegalese referee Issa Sy issued a straight red against Gradisar.

The decision left the Egyptian champions reduced to ten men for more than 75 minutes, a situation the club argues had a decisive impact on the flow and competitiveness of the game.

In its formal submission to CAF, Al Ahly expressed serious concerns about the officiating, stating that multiple decisions during the match raised doubts about the fairness of the handling of key incidents.

The club highlighted the dismissal of Gradisar as “unjustified,” insisting the challenge did not warrant such a severe punishment.

Al Ahly says the situation was further compounded by another incident involving defender Ahmed Ramadan Beckham.

According to the club, a member of the Aigle Noir side committed an act of aggression against the defender but did not receive the appropriate disciplinary sanction.

The Cairo giants have included video footage as part of the evidence package sent to CAF for review.

The appeal specifically requests that Gradisar avoid any suspension that might follow from the red card, with Al Ahly arguing that the referee’s decision “does not correspond to the facts observed on the pitch.”

The team maintains that the evidence clearly demonstrates an error in judgment, resulting in an unfair disadvantage during a crucial stage of the competition.

The club has not commented further publicly while awaiting CAF’s response on whether the disciplinary ruling will be overturned or amended.

The case is now expected to be evaluated by the relevant CAF committee responsible for refereeing decisions and disciplinary matters.

Al Ahly’s challenge reflects a firm stance in defending their player and seeking accountability over what they deem inconsistent officiating in a high-stakes continental fixture.

As the appeal process moves forward, attention now turns to CAF’s forthcoming decision and its potential implications for upcoming Champions League matches.