Al Hilal SC are working on an appeal to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as they fight to overturn a three-match suspension handed to their star winger Jean Claude Girumugisha, a source has told Times Sport. The Burundi international is part of Al Hilal squad that travelled to Lubumbashi on Friday ahead of their crunch CAF Champions League group stage match against St Eloi Lupopo on Sunday, November 30. He could, however, miss the match after CAF suspended him for three matches, in addition to a $5,000 fine, due to unsportsmanlike conduct in his side’s match against MC Alger in Kigali on November 21. There were moments of chaos and tensions at the final whistle as several players and staff from both teams engaged in heated altercations after Al Hilal beat MC Alger 2-1 to claim their first three points in the group stage this season. The CAF Disciplinary Committee opened a disciplinary case on the incident and imposed a three-match suspension on Girumugisha, among other sanctions put in place including a $15,000 fine against Al Hilal. The committee, however, clarified that there was no incident of the Burundian star throwing a water bottle towards the MC Alger bench as initially reported. The suspension, which took effect on Friday, means that Girumugisha will miss three CAF Champions League stage matches including Sunday’s clash against St Eloi Lupopo as well as two matches against Mamelodi Sundowns (home and away). The decision, however, didn’t go well with Al Hilal who said they are appealing against the suspension. “An appeal will be filed today and efforts will be made to challenge the decision,” an official at Al Hilal said in a text sent to Times Sport. Girumugisha has established himself as a key player at Al Hilal since arriving at the club before the beginning of the season. He made a crucial impact in the club’s win over MC Alger where he assisted Abdelrazig Omer Yagoub for the opening goal. The suspension is a big blow the club who are already doing what they can to overturn the suspension.
