The United Arab Emirates Football Association was fined $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 (AFC) said yesterday.
Eventual champions Qatar defeated hosts UAE 4-0 in the semi-final 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 Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The AFC said the UAE FA was penalised under a number of articles under its disciplinary code, including liability for spectator conduct (article 65) and organisation of matches (article 64).
“The AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee has sanctioned the UAE FA with a fine of $150,000 following the incidents that occurred during their Asian Cup semi-final 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).”
Fans had also jeered throughout the Qatar national anthem with dozens of Emiratis sitting for its duration before standing for the UAE anthem.
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 their first continental title with a stunning 3-1 win over four-times champions Japan in the final.
In this January 29, 2019, picture, Qatar’s Almoez Ali (left) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against the United Arab Emirates in their AFC Asian Cup semi-final in Abu Dhabi. (Reuters)
