AL AHLI Club were fined BD500 and their fans banned for one year for rioting after losing a title match to Muharraq on May 28, the Bahrain Football Association announced yesterday. The decision was taken after the disciplinary committee reviewed the tape of the Bahrain Classification Soccer League title match at the National Stadium in Riffa.

Al Ahli players started rioting in the closing stages of the game after Muharraq were awarded a penalty with score at stage being 1-1. Muharraq converted the penalty to claim the title.

Al Ahli was leading in the match with a first-half goal before referee Jaffer Al Khabbaz awarded 16 minutes of 'added time' after he was 'injured'. Muharraq equalised soon after.

But the referee was unable to continue a little later and was replaced by Zakariya Ebrahim who awarded a penalty to Muharraq 30 seconds later.

Al Ahli fans invaded the pitch soon after the final whistle and tried to attack the match officials. The fans also ransacked VIP cars parked at the stadium and damaged some stadium property.

Other decisions taken by the disciplinary committee include a one-year ban on Al Ahli midfielder Hussain Al Shakar for attacking the referee following the awarding of the penalty.

Al Ahli skipper Isa Shehab and defender Hussain Hashem get three-match bans each for colliding with Muharraq players after the game. Al Ahli midfielder Mahmood Abbas is banned for two matches for confronting security personnel after the match.

Muharraq goalkeeper Sayed Mohammed Jaffer and midfielder Mohammed Abdulla are banned for two matches each for colliding with Al Ahli players.