The football Federation of the United Arab Emirates protested to the semi-final defeat against Qatar, against the use of two Qatari players in the tournament. The coaches of the finalists, however, remains left.
Almoez Ali (R.) celebrated one of his eight goal of the tournament
The United Arab Emirates, the host of the Asian Cup, now at the green table against the 0:4 in the semi-final defeat to Qatar. The football Association of the Emirates made a complaint to the Asian continental Confederation AFC formally Protest against the use of the Qatari players Almoez Ali and Bassam Al-Rawi. The two are not in Qatar-born footballer did not meet the article 7 of the FIFA statutes, provided the conditions, it said. Then one of the parents would have to, at least, or grandparents in Qatar to be born but the players after their 18. Birthday for at least five years continuously in the country have lived.
The 22-year-old striker Ali was born in Sudan, the 21-year-old defender Bassam Al-Rawi in Iraq. Since both players are younger than 23 years, the Five-year-edition not fulfilled. Both should have indicated to FIFA that their mothers had been born in Qatar. The Association of the Emirates, has according to own statements, however, evidence that Al-Rawi’s mother was born in Iraq.
Tournament exclusion would be possible
Ali had scored in the semi-final against the Emirates, the goal for 2:0. It was already his eighth ever tournament goal record at the Asian Championships. Al Rawi was locked up for the penultimate round Yellow. The AFC should be instead of Protest, could be considered the semi-finals with a defeat of Qatar. Also an exclusion from the tournament would be possible.
Felix Sanchez Bas, the Spanish coach of the Qataris, was left. “I’m not Worried about that,” said Sanchez. “We still have a game in front of us and concentrate only on that. All of the other things that have nothing to do with football, hide us.”
Angry Mood
Projectiles on the pitch
Already the participation of the neighbors of Qatar at the Asian Cup was the Emirates a thorn in the eye. Four Arab States, including the UAE, were cut off in June 2017, the diplomatic relations. They accused Qatar of supporting Islamist terrorists. In the semi-finals on Tuesday was heated in the stadium in Abu Dhabi, the mood extremely. As a Qatari Fans celebrated perk up the victory against the Emirates and in the final, were you and the players thrown on the court with shoes – in the Arab region is an act of absolute contempt. The referee interrupted the match several times.