Ahli’s website stated that the match supervisor from Eritrea rejected a suggestion to have a moment of silence in memory of the hundreds of Egyptians who lost their lives in the recent public uprising.

The Cairo club then made another proposal to flash two banners of condolences for the families of the revolution and the Japanese people, following the devastating earthquake which killed more than 5000 last week.

However, the match officials insisted on their stance, stressing that ‘such political issues are not related to sports’.

The report also reflected the affection toward Japanese people, who ‘showed great hospitality and friendship with Ahli’ in the three visits the club made to the Asian nation in previous Club World Cup competitions.

In the same context, European football ruing body UEFA banned t-shirts of support planned by Real Madrid and Lyon ahead of Wednesday Champions League game, in tribute for Barcelona defender Eric Abidal, who was diagnosed with liver tumor this week.