CAF set to rule on El Ouaer fake injury accusation

Veteran Tunisian goalkeeper Chokri El Ouaer could receive a career-ending ban from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee on Saturday.

El Ouaer, captain of his country and top Tunisian side Esperance, faces the possibility of a lengthy suspension if he is adjudged to have faked serious injury in an attempt to force the abandonment of last year's African Champions League final. El Ouaer, 34, is alleged to have cut himself with a sharp object during an 18-minute stoppage near the end of the second leg of Esperance's match against Hearts of Oak of Ghana in Accra last December.

Referee Robin Williams of South Africa and linesman Achmat Salie both said the player hit himself on the head during the stoppage, caused by rioting in the crowd. El Ouaer then ran from his goal area, with blood flowing down the side of his face, before collapsing at the halfway line.

Esperance claimed he had been hit by a projectile thrown from the terraces and protested at the result of the game, wich Hearts won 3-1 for a 5-2 aggregate triumph. CAF rejected the club's appeal.

CAF, meeting in Ghana, is also expected to rule on a possible one-year ban for Esperance's Brazilian-born forward Reinaldo, accused of attacking the referee twice in the match.