Faisali fan banned from matches for 'attempting to spite Wihdat'

AMMAN — Faisali club management has decided to ban its fan club leader Mazen Beni from entering Jordan's stadiums for one year. 

The decision came after Beni wore the jersey of the Saudi Al Ittihad team, which host Wihdat on Tuesday in the preliminary round of the Asian Football Confederation 2016 Asian Champions League, when Faisali played the Saudi Ahli club on Saturday at Prince Mohammad Stadium in Zarqa. 

Jordanian clubs Faisali and Wihdat have a longstanding rivalry in local football championships.

"We took this decision because Beni does not represent the club and we support any Jordanian club when they play abroad," Ramzi Abu Sondos, Faisali secretary general, told The Jordan Times over the phone on Monday. 

Beni's move sparked criticism by football fans in Jordan, who took to social media to express their anger.

Mustafa Al Mousa (@mustafaalmosa) commended the step taken by the club.   

Ayed Marei wrote on Facebook that such a decision will combat "racism". 

"We thank the management of Faisali for not allowing Mazen Beni to attend the matches for one year because he wore the jersey of the Saudi Ittihad club to spite Wihdat, which will face Ittihad," he wrote

Bilal Shabaneh said on Facebook that Beni was harming the brotherhood between Faisali and Wihdat.