Salih
The problem of the date and venue of Al Wahda's second round match against Iraqi club Al Zawraa in the Asian Clubs took a drastic turn after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) officially addressed the club, via the UAE FA, stating that both matches will be held in Amman, Jordan, on January 4 and 7.

Al Wahda have lodged a protest and addressed the AFC with new suggestions for the two matches suggesting Qatar as a venue of the first leg match, originally scheduled for Friday, December 21.

Al Wahda reasoned that playing the two matches in Amman would not be fair because it is almost a home ground for the Iraqi national team and clubs since the Gulf War in 1991.

A sizeable Iraqi community in the Jordanian capital would also provide Al Zawraa with tremendous support.

Abdullah Salih, the Al Wahda secretary general, said that his club would refuse to play the two games in Amman, or the return leg in Baghdad and that they have already received a letter from the AFC stating that they will play the first match at home in Abu Dhabi on Friday, December 21 and in Amman on January 4.

"The new letter we received from the AFC, changing the venue to Amman and the dates to January 4 and 7, is not fair to us and to our preparations. We will not accept this decision and we have already addressed the AFC officially with our point of view," Salih confirmed.

"Al Wahda suggested playing the first leg in Doha, Qatar on December 21 as scheduled and the return leg in Amman on January 4," Adil Khamis, the team manager, told Gulf News yesterday.

"Playing in Amman on January 4 will suit us because it coincides with Al Ain's away match against Jordanian club Al Wahdat in the Asian Cup Winners Cup.

"Most of the supporters will go to attend that match which will reduce the number of supporters for Al Zawraa in their match against us."

The problem facing the first leg match is that Al Wahda's letter to the AFC was sent early yesterday, bearing in mind that the AFC officials will be preparing for their weekend and the decision should be taken by the members of the AFC Competitions Committee by video conference since all members are not from Malaysia, the headquarters of the AFC.

Meanwhile, the UAE FA, who are expecting a reply, will be off till Wednesday for the Eid Holidays. This leaves no time for the two clubs, especially Al Zawraa, to travel to Qatar and play on Friday, December 21.

The club is still waiting for the AFC's reply to decide on their next course of action having refused outright to play the two matches in Amman or the second leg in Baghdad.