Al Nasr striker Ibrahima Toure could face a lengthy ban and be disciplined by his club after being sent off in last night’s Arabian Gulf League opener at Bani Yas for a cowardly backhanded punch that bloodied Mohamed Jaber.
The off-the-ball incident saw the 28-year-old lash out at his opponent with real venom after 70 minutes of the 1-1 draw.
Toure’s loss of control continued, refusing to head back to the dressing rooms quietly once dismissed and engaging in a heated argument with several team-mates.
After the match, Nasr tweeted that serious repurcussions could follow for last season’s 16-goal top-scorer. “The board of directors reassure the injured player Mohamed Jaber and underlines the lack of acceptance of what Ibrahima Toure did,” they said.
“The board of directors will meet soon to take the necessary decisions according to the regulations of the company’s behaviour and discipline.”
AGL rules state if a player is given a direct red card they will be “automatically suspended for the following next two matches in the competition”. The Disciplinary Committee, however, retains the right to “impose additional sanctions and/or fines” which can be extended to other competitions.
Previously, Al Ahli captain Grafite was given a six-match suspension after elbowing opponent Hassan Zahran during the President’s Cup clash with Al Dhafra on December 19, 2012. Then Al Wasl goalkeeper Majed Naser was also given an unprecedented 17-match suspension for slapping former Ahli boss Quique Sanchez Flores and spitting at Yousuf Mohammed in an Etisalat Cup semi-final in March 2012.
In regards to last night’s match at Bani Yas Stadium, both coaches refused to be drawn when asked about Toure.
“To be sincere with you, I did not see the action of Toure,” Nasr boss Ivan Jovanovic said. “I cannot make a comment on that.”
Opposite number and AGL debutant Luis Garcia similarly stated he had not witnessed the attack, but expressed his displeasure at a perceived lack of sportsmanship from the Blue Wave.
“I did not see the red card so I cannot judge it”, the 41-year-old said. “I did not focus on it, as I was focusing on changing my player.
“But I saw something I did not like at all. Whenever an Al Nasr player went down with an injury we kicked the ball out of play. Al Nasr did the opposite. This is not fair play.”
