The Arabian Gulf League's (AGL) Pro League Committee (PLC) moved the Arabian Gulf Super Cup in order to aid Al Ain's chances of progressing to the AFC Champions League final, a PLC statement confirmed today.
The curtain-raising event was yesterday cancelled by the PLC without a reason, just ten days before the match between AGL champions Al Ahli and President's Cup victors Al Ain were due to meet.
This year's match was scheduled for a 7:15pm kick-off on Friday, 12th September at Al Jazira's Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium but will now be contested at a later, yet to be announced date.
"The decision to postpone the Arabian Gulf Super Cup match between Al Ahli and Al Ain – scheduled for Friday 12th September – was taken in support of Al Ain's participation in the AFC Champions League," said PLC chairman Mohammed Thani Murshed Al Romaithi in an official statement.
Previously called the UAE Super Cup, the showpiece match provides a gala kick-off to the 2014-15 campaign in the UAE with the new AGL season beginning with fixtures on the 15th and 16th September.
That would have meant that Al Ain would have had to play the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final against Saudi Arabia outfit Al Hilal just three days after competing in the Super Cup.
With Zlatko Dalic likely to field a weakened side to concentrate on continental progression, the PLC's decision ensures that a competitive fixture is played in the near future.
"We wish Al Ain the best of luck for the upcoming semi-finals on 16th and 30th September and hope for the AFC Champions League title to return to the UAE in a repeat of the 2003 achievement," added Al Romaithi.
"We are fully aware of the pressure on the fixture schedule for the 2014/15 season due to a number of competitions involving both clubs and National Team, and the difficulty this will pose in rescheduling the Super Cup match, but currently our main focus is to support our UAE representative in the AFC Champions League and thus the rescheduled Super Cup will be determined at a later date.
"I also wish to extend my sincere gratitude to Al Ahli Club for agreeing to postpone the match in the name of supporting a fellow UAE team in an international tournament, and we are proud that all our clubs support one another when representing our nation overseas."
