DOHA : Qatar Football Association awarded Al Shamal a 3-0 victory over Qatar SC after upholding a disciplinary protest, a decision that has dramatically reopened the Qatar Stars League title race.
The Disciplinary Committee said the protest was accepted on both procedural and substantive grounds, overturning the original 2-0 win for Qatar SC and imposing a fine of 10,000 Qatari riyals on the club.
The ruling cited a breach of league regulations concerning foreign players after Qatar SC fielded Argentine defender Marco Ruso in the second half. He replaced Ahmed Al Rawi after Tunisian defender Ali Saoudi had been sent off before halftime.
Under the rules, only six foreign players are permitted to participate in a match, with no allowance for replacing a dismissed foreign player.
The original result had effectively secured the title for Al Sadd SC on 42 points, with Al Shamal trailing on 37. The revised outcome lifts Al Shamal to 40 points, leaving the title to be decided in the final round.
Al Shamal can now clinch their first league title with a victory over Al Sadd.
In response, the league announced that all six final-round fixtures will be played simultaneously on April 27 to ensure sporting integrity across the title race, qualification spots and relegation battle.
Under league rules, the 12th-placed team will be relegated automatically, while the side finishing 11th will face a playoff against the second-division runner-up for a place in next season’s top flight.
