Al Ahli head coach Cosmin Olaroiu has been handed a three month suspended prison sentence and a fine of AED 21,000 by an Abu Dhabi criminal court after being found guilty of defaming former employers Al Ain Club.

Olaroiu, who led Al Ain to successive league titles before making the controversial switch to rivals Al Ahli last summer, was found guilty of making derogatory comments aimed at his old club earlier in the season.

As well as the suspended sentence and fine, Olaroiu has been ordered not to direct any further insulting comments at Al Ain Club.

The conviction is the latest punishment received by Olaroiu, who is currently serving a six-month suspension from football after he was found to have breached his contract with Al Ain when he agreed the move to Al Ahli.

In that instance, Al Ain were also awarded 500,000 euros.

Speaking after the court ruling, Mansour Lutah, the Legal Adviser of Al Ahli Club, told Sharjah TV: “The Dh21,000 is the civil rights of Al Ain club. They can take the case to a higher court and ask for compensation.”

Lutah added when asked whether Al Ahli would appeal the ruling: “We will sit with the coach to decide our next move.”

Despite all the controversy surrounding their head coach off the field, Al Ahli continue to thrive on it. The Red Knights lead the Arabian Gulf League standings by six points and will, coincidentally, take on Al Ain in the President’s Cup final.