Overview
- The Asian Football Confederation dismissed Shabab Al Ahli’s formal protest on Thursday, citing rules that make referees’ factual calls final and keeping Machida in Saturday’s title match.
- The protest followed Tuesday’s semi-final in Jeddah in which a VAR check wiped out a stoppage-time equaliser because a throw-in restarted play before Machida completed a substitution.
- The fallout saw Shabab players confront referee Shaun Evans at the whistle as security led him off and the goalkeeper Hamad Almeqbaali received a red card.
- This playoff phase was reshaped by the U.S.-Iran war, which forced one-leg neutral ties in Jeddah and produced travel detours and crowds as low as 395 for Machida’s semi.
- Machida reach the final under former high-school coach Go Kuroda after three straight 1-0 knockout wins, while hosts Al-Ahli bring stars like Ivan Toney and Riyad Mahrez and expect a large crowd.