The small Qatar is, after the victory against the great Saudi Arabia as a favourite of the football Asia championship. It host the world Cup of 2022 because of a trade blockade under massive pressure.
With the fervor of the Fans of Saudi Arabia expressed their dislike of Qatar, but in the 80’s. Minute of the game was silence in the spacious Zayed Sports City stadium in Abu Dhabi. Almoez Abdulla had shot the 2:0 for Qatar, in this game it should stay. Under normal circumstances, 2000 would have cheered, maybe 3000 Qatari spectators the outsider, but now only occasional joy were listening to calls. The Qatari players didn’t seem to bother the. It is her third victory in the third game at the Asia championship in the United Arab Emirates. Their Goal Scoring Records: 10:0. In spite of great limitations.
The game had been overwritten in the media with the headline “Cold war in the Gulf”. In June 2017 Saudi Arabia had imposed on Qatar, a trade blockade. The reasons: the alleged proximity to terrorist organizations and a close relationship to Iran. Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates followed suit and suspended their diplomatic relations with Doha. Many Qatari citizens have had to leave the Emirates, the host country for the Asia championship.
Without support from home
The consequences: The Qatari team had to be on the short arrival in Kuwait between the land, because direct Connections are exposed. One of their most important officials, was initially prevented from entering the country, as well as a number of journalists. The few reporters who are now reporting for the Qatari media, belong to other nationalities. The team plays virtually no support from home. This is especially evident in their second group game in Al Ain, against North Korea, as the organizer of the number of spectators, with 452 reported. Against Saudi Arabia, it was 16.000. Many of the Locals and Saudis sang together against Qatar.
A lone Fan of the Qatari team at the game against Saudi Arabia
Another point of contention are the transmissions of the TV. “In many of the Hotels in the host country, it is impossible to keep track of the Asia championship,” says Tariq Panja, who reported for the New York Times about the tournament. The legal owner of the pay-TV channel “beIN sport” that had emerged from the Qatari station Al Jazeera. For months, a conflict because of the pirate radio station “beoutQ”, the transfers of football is illegal in Saudi Arabia and other countries to smolder.
Plans of the Fifa seem unrealistic
Given these tensions, the statements of Gianni Infantino seem to be unrealistic. The Fifa President wants to create with an ominous offer of 25 billion dollars from Saudi Arabia to new competitions. Moreover, he wishes for the 2022 world Cup with 48 instead of 32 teams. However, due to lack of stadiums, training sites and Hotels in Qatar in need of support from the neighborhood. “In this Region, there are tensions, and it is up to the respective managers to deal with them,” said Infantino in Dubai. “But maybe it’s easier to talk about a joint football project as more complicated things.”
Really? The last pan-Arab games were held, for example, the 2011 in Doha, since then, unable to come to the Region on a host. And the journalist James M. Dorsey, described in his Blog “Mideast soccer”, as officials from Saudi Arabia and the UAE want the world Cup plans of Qatar.
Football as part of the security policy
The long-term strategy seems to be in Qatar by now. “Qatar considers sporting events as a kind of life insurance”, Beirut says the political scientist Danyel Reiche from the American University and is reminiscent of 1990. At the time, the all-powerful Iraq invaded the small, Kuwait, the United States liberated the country. “The Qataris do not want to be perceived by Sport so much, that you something happens,” says Rich.
The area of Saudi Arabia is 200 Times as large as that of Qatar. Doha has the second smallest army in the Middle East, with 12,000 soldiers. 500,000 against Saudi Arabia. Qatar is home to one of the largest military bases in the USA, but that does not have to be in times of unpredictable policy Donald Trumps of permanent. Therefore, Doha is investing in “Soft Power”, a strategy that relies on military action, but on a cultural exchange. Many other sporting events, including the purchase of Paris Saint-Germain or of the sponsors at the start of FC Barcelona and FC Bayern include, in addition to the world Cup.
Sporty it runs smoothly for Qatar at the Asian Cup: double-scorer Almoez Ali (r.) cheers
Many Qataris fear that the football will open their country to very
Of the two and a half million inhabitants of Qatar, only about ten percent of the citizens of the country. In education or health care, you enjoy privileges, their Per capita income is one of the highest in the world. Many of them fear that the debates around the liberalisation of the world Cup in your country, for example, the international criticism of labour or human rights violations.
“They are afraid that their old rituals are watered down,” says Florian Bauer, who has researched for the ARD several times in Qatar. Recently, it has been increased in Qatar, the alcohol prices through new taxes massively. A concession to conservative circles, because of internal political stability political “Soft Power is on the outside”. Whether women’s rights, working conditions, or freedom of the press, the Qatari monarchy has to show progress, if you want to be recognized by the Western world.
But more reforms could bring more conservative neighbors such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, or Bahrain, under pressure to act. Qatar wants to attract through football-the popularity of investors and its tourism strengths. Doha has set in, with new transport routes for food to the Blockade. Now at the Asia championship coaches and players fight all the political questions politely. You seem to want the Sport speak for itself. And yet the works: The Team has an average age of 24 years, almost all of the players were born in Qatar. And also the task in the second round, on Tuesday against Iraq, seems to be solvable.
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The most beautiful moments of the Asian CupHead-to-head in the next round
In short, it looks like the underdog Uzbekistan favorite Japan could make a leg. However, shortly after the leadership of the Uzbek Yoshinori Muto (R), Ex-striker from Mainz 05 is responding with a goal for Japan. At the end of the “Samurai Blue to win” – in the second round both Teams.
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The most beautiful moments of the Asian CupLast-Minute-Cheers
Australia’s midfielder Awho mabille the other evening by throwing his coach Graham Arnold almost joy. The reason: Australia defeated Syria thanks to a goal in the third Minute of stoppage time with 3:2 and in the second round.
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The most beautiful moments of the Asian CupPractical Headgear
The Fans of the Palestinian Teams can waive flags. Just take your Kufiyas, the square head scarves, and waving to them.
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The most beautiful moments of the Asian CupFlying Limbs
Two players from Japan and Oman, but is only a foot of the Japanese Wataru Endo still on the ground. All other limbs are in the air, and somehow also in use.
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The most beautiful moments of the Asian CupTravelled far
The Japanese Fans have every reason to be happy. By the 1:0 success against the Emirates Team from Nippon solves in advance the Ticket for the next round. So far, Japan’s footballers were also at the world Cup in Russia. At the Asian Cup, it was allowed to go to the taste of the Fans from the far East have quiet a bit more.
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The most beautiful moments of the Asian CupGood Posture Notes
Also, the Iran is after the 2:0 against Vietnam, the second victory in the second game, early in the first K. o. round. There can lie Pham Duc Huy (R) and as transverse. More than good grades, there is not for the Vietnamese.
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The most beautiful moments of the Asian CupFinally, a Fan may be
As in the case of the world Cup in Russia, many Iranian women on fire at the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates national team. In their home country of Iran to wait inside still, without restrictions, football games visit.
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The most beautiful moments of the Asian CupA Good Omen?
Here in Lebanon, Mehdi Khalil can hold the Ball. But the goalkeeper of Lebanon must engage in the game twice. The Saudis are creating for the first time since 1966-a Asian Cup Start with two Wins. At that time, she also won the tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
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The most beautiful moments of the Asian CupSmall Fan, high victory
China, too, starts with two to Be made to the tournament: 2:1 against Kyrgyzstan and 3:0 against the Philippines. The clear victory in their second group game, this little Fan from the middle Kingdom celebrates omitted.
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The most beautiful moments of the Asian CupGeknubbel
To give there is nothing at the Asian Cup. Each point will be developed. The highlights of this scene in the game between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, is impressive. The stakes are right.
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The most beautiful moments of the Asian CupView
For Oman, there are after two defeats in the outstanding group game against Turkmenistan to get nothing more. After all of this, supporters of the Arab team will return with original fan utensils home.