Asian Cup host UAE fined US$150K for fans targeting Qatar
The United Arab Emirates Football Association was fined US$150,000 and its national team ordered to play a home game behind closed doors after sandal-throwing local fans marred an Asian Cup clash against Qatar, the Asian Football Confederation said on Monday.
Eventual champion Qatar defeated host UAE 4-0 in the semifinal of the continental championship on January 29, a game in which forward Almoez Ali was pelted with footwear as he celebrated his team's second goal.
Qatar's last two scorers — captain Hassan al-Haydos and Hamid Ismail — were also the target of missiles at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The AFC said the UAE FA was penalized under a number of articles of its disciplinary code, including liability for spectator conduct (article 65) and organization of matches (article 64).
"The AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee has sanctioned the UAE FA with a fine of US$150,000 following the incidents that occurred during their Asian Cup semifinal match against Qatar," Asian soccer's governing body said in a statement.
"In addition, the UAE FA has also been ordered to play one match without spectators... which will come into effect during their next match played on the territory of the UAE during the AFC Asian Cup 2023 (qualifiers)."
Qatar players celebrate after Hasan al-Haydos scored their third goal against the United Arab Emirates as objects are thrown onto the pitch during their Asian Cup semifinal in Abu Dhabi in this January 29, 2019, photo.
Fans had also jeered throughout the Qatar national anthem with dozens of Emiratis sitting for its duration before standing for the UAE anthem.
The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt cut political and trade ties with Qatar in June 2017 over allegations Doha supports terrorism, a charge that Qatar denies.
The AFC said the UAE FA must settle the fine within 30 days and warned it that any future violations may lead to more severe punishment.
Qatar sealed its first continental title with a stunning 3-1 win over four-time champion Japan in the final.
The verdict was the latest legal defeat for the UAE soccer federation in fallout from the Qatar game.
On the day of Qatar's win over Japan in the Asian Cup final, the AFC rejected a formal complaint by the UAE that two players were ineligible to play for the 2022 World Cup host nation's team amid allegations of wrongfully submitted documents.
An appeal by the UAE against the decision is likely in a case that could go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.
The disciplinary cases are playing out during the AFC presidential campaign, where two of the three candidates come from the UAE and Qatar. Current president Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa of Bahrain is seeking a renewed four-year term during an election on April 6 in Kuala Lumpur against former Abu Dhabi police chief Mohamed Khalfan al-Romaithi and Saoud al-Mohannadi of Qatar.
