Al Hilal Gives CAF Final Ultimatum Over RS Berkane Dispute, Ready to Appeal to CAS

Sudanese giants Al Hilal SC have handed the Confederation of African Football (CAF) a final ultimatum to respond to their official complaints regarding Moroccan club RS Berkane. The club has firmly declared that if no response is received by the end of today, Friday, April 3, 2026, they will immediately escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
According to a public statement released by the club on Friday afternoon, Al Hilal’s legal representative, Pedro, sent a direct communication to both the CAF Disciplinary Committee and the Sudanese Football Association. The message outlines the club’s frustration with CAF’s persistent silence.
“The 48-hour period we granted in our last correspondence for a response expired on April 1,” Pedro stated. “CAF has remained silent for 11 days regarding four official documents we sent earlier.”
These documents included an official complaint filed on March 23 and a reminder letter sent on March 29. Because of this inaction, Al Hilal has formally requested the temporary suspension of RS Berkane from all international football activities.
“We demand that CAF takes provisional measures to bar RS Berkane from participating in any activity organized by CAF or FIFA while our case is being reviewed,” the club’s management stated.
The club’s lawyer made it clear that they are prepared to go to the highest court in sports if they continue to be ignored.
“Al Hilal is giving CAF a final opportunity to send a detailed response to our letters no later than today, April 3, before the case is submitted to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), backed by more than 13 specific legal points.”
This aggressive pursuit of justice stems from the second leg of the CAF Champions League quarter-finals, which was held at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on March 22, 2026. Al Hilal was eliminated from the competition after suffering a 1-0 defeat.
The Sudanese side raises two heavy accusations against RS Berkane and the match officials:
- Ineligible Player Allegation: Al Hilal accuses RS Berkane of fielding their captain, Hamza El Moussaoui, claiming he was serving a 30-day suspension after failing a doping test.
- VAR and Referee Bias: The club alleges severe referee bias. They claim their legitimate goal was unlawfully disallowed despite VAR rules, and a controversial penalty was awarded against them, leading to their elimination.
Furthermore, the club explains that a foul by an RS Berkane player resulted in a serious injury to Al Hilal defender Saeed Ahmed. Despite the time lost treating the injury, the referee allegedly failed to add the appropriate stoppage time, violating Article 5 of the VAR regulations.
While the legal battle heats up off the pitch, Al Hilal Omdurman remains focused on their domestic campaign. Currently leading the league standings with 54 points, the Blue Wave will return to the pitch to host Marine FC. This Matchday 26 fixture in the Rwandan Premier League is scheduled for Monday, April 6, 2026, at the Kigali Pelé Stadium at 3:00 PM.

