ABU DHABI • Qatar coach Felix Sanchez said his team would not be distracted from the "most important match in the country's football history" by a protest over the eligibility of two of their best players at the Asian Cup.
The National newspaper reported yesterday on the eve of the Qatar-Japan final that the host, the United Arab Emirates, had formally questioned the eligibility of Sudan-born striker Almoez Ali and Iraqi-born defender Bassam Al-Rawi.
World football governing body Fifa mandates that a player switching national teams must either qualify through their parents or grandparents or must reside in a country for five years after their 18th birthday.
It is alleged that the 22-year-old Ali and 21-year-old Al-Rawi have not met the residency requirements to be eligible. Qatar claimed that they have relatives born in the country which allows them to play, which the UAE disputes.
Ali scored his record-equalling eighth goal of the tournament when Qatar beat the UAE 4-0 in the semi-finals on Tuesday. Al-Rawi was suspended for that match but is expected to return for the final.
The Asian Football Confederation confirmed that it has received a protest from the UAE Football Association regarding two players and that it would be "reviewed in line with the AFC regulations".
Spaniard Sanchez, however, said that his players were focused on preparing for today's match at Zayed Sports City Stadium.
"We are only focused on the game we're going to play tomorrow, any other things not related to football is not in our minds at the moment. I'm not concerned at all," he said. "My players need no more motivation than to play an Asian Cup final."
The protest comes against a background of a political and economic boycott of Qatar which the UAE launched with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt in 2017. The four countries accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism, which it denies.
FOCUSED ON FINAL
We are only focused on the game we're going to play tomorrow, any other things not related to football is not in our minds at the moment.
FELIX SANCHEZ, Qatar coach, on his team's mentality as they approach today's Asian Cup final against Japan.
The political rift was manifest in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday when Emirati fans hurled sandals and drinks bottles at Ali and two other players celebrating their goals during the semi-final.
The rift also means that almost no Qatari fans or media have been in the UAE to support and report on their run to a first continental final.
Meanwhile, Japan captain Maya Yoshida called on tournament organisers to deal swiftly with incidents of "stupidity" that risk damaging the reputation of Asian football.
The Asian Cup has seen its share of controversial refereeing decisions, with host UAE twice awarded soft late penalties that left rivals players and coaches fuming.
Japan's semi-final victory over Iran also came close to boiling over, with Yoshida himself needing to be restrained by teammates after reacting furiously to a petulant slap from Sardar Azmoun.
"I think the AFC should control stuff about penalties and suspensions," said the Southampton defender yesterday.
"If (the Cup) is broadcast all over the world, you don't want to see any stupid things, especially after the game. We are representing Asia under the hashtag #bringingasiatogether, so it's important to represent Asia by playing good football and with fair play."
Japan enter the final as favourites to add to their record of four Asian Cup titles, but Qatar coach Sanchez insisted that the 2022 World Cup hosts were confident ahead of their first appearance in the final, after comfortably winning all six of their matches and keeping a record six clean sheets.
"To us, it's no surprise that we are in the final," he said. "I have full trust in the players, they are motivated to make history."
REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
JAPAN V QATAR
Singtel TV Ch114 & StarHub Ch208, 9.30pm
Stadium switch poised to lift Spurs. Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino (waving) and chairman Daniel Levy in the stands of the new stadium during the Under-18 Premier League game against
Stadium switch poised to lift Spurs - theworldnews.net
Football: Ikhsan Fandi signs two-year deal with Norwegian
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Chelsea: Pedro grabs away goal in
PARIS, June 7 (Reuters) - France got off to a perfect start in the women's World Cup as the hosts beat South Korea 4-0 in the opening game at the Parc des Princes on Friday. Eugenie Le Sommer and
Football: France make light work of South Korea in World Cup
LONDON • Jose Mourinho has appeared to suggest Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has become "a puppet" at Manchester United, with the former manager alluding to certain players having too much power.. Read
Salty Language Episode 52 - Puppet Show - YouTube
Feb 26 (Reuters) - Gylfi Sigurdsson deepened Cardiff City's Premier League relegation fears with two well-taken goals in Everton's 3-0 victory in the Welsh capital on Tuesday. A first half low on
Sigurdsson double helps Everton sink Cardiff
en.banglatribune.com/sports/news/31201/Sigurdsson-double-helps-Everton-sink-Cardiff
CARDIFF CITY 0 EVERTON 3. Gylfi Sigurdsson deepened Cardiff City's Premier League relegation fears with two well-taken goals in Everton's 3-0 victory in the Welsh capital on Tuesday. Sigurdsson is now the leading Icelandic goalscorer in the Premier League, moving two clear of the 55 scored by former Chelsea player Eidur Gudjohnsen.
Cardiff City vs. Everton - Football Match Report - February
An operation against several footballers, ex-players including former Spain international Raul Bravo and club executives accused of fixing matches in the first and second divisions was underway in
Breaking: Several players arrested in match fixing probe in
Pele recovering well after kidney stone operation
New Football Association of Singapore (FAS) technical director Joseph Palatsides hopes to rouse local football from its slumber. "I see Singapore football as a sleeping giant," said the 53-year
Joseph Palatsides named as FAS technical director | Goal.com
Brazilian soccer great Pele had a successful operation to remove a kidney stone on Saturday, doctors in Sao Paulo said. Pele had the surgery at the Israelite Albert Einstein hospital. "The procedure was a success and the patient is back in his room," a brief statement from doctors said.
Pele recovering well after kidney stone operation - ewn.co.za
Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - December 21, 2018 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their first goal wit
Liverpool seal Christmas top spot as Salah and Van Dijk sink
The perfect view of Gordon Banks' greatest save | Brief letters | Football | The Guardian; Gordon Banks shirt campaign reaches 11,000 retweets - BBC Sport; Football: Gordon Banks' illustrious career extended beyond iconic save, Football News & Top Stories - The Straits Times
Gordon Banks tribute: A man whose golden legacy extended far
Barcelona: Barcelona forward Luis Suarez has been ruled out of playing in the China Cup with Uruguay after spraining his ankle for his club at the weekend. Suarez, 32, is expected to miss between 10 and 15 days after limping off late in Sunday's 4-1 win at Real Betis in La Liga.
Injured Suarez to miss Uruguay's China Cup campaign - myKhel
Napoli stumble at Fiorentina, Martinez gets Inter back winning Napoli could finish the weekend trailing Serie A leaders Juventus by 11 points after Carlo Ancelotti's wasteful side stuttered to a 0-0 draw at Fiorentina on Saturday.
Napoli stumble at Fiorentina, Martinez gets Inter back winning
Tottenham Hotspur Mauricio Pochettino is disappointed over his team's loss to Bournemouth as he sent-off two men in their 1-0 defeat. Pochettino defiant as poor Tottenham form continues. By
Pochettino defiant as poor Tottenham form continues - Reuters
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch soccer live stream app
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch usa soccer live stream
watch premier league live streaming live
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch champions league live streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming eng
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch the premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch champions league live streaming now
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch premier league live in stream
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch us soccer live stream
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch soccer live stream links
watch soccer game live now
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch champions league live streaming video
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming zip
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch coppa america live streaming english
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch premier league live stream hd
#Barcelona #footballmemes #goal #soccer #petercrouch #alissonbecker #kopisusu #ucl #conference #insegreto #barcelona #nutmeg #Vip45 #messi #championsleague #adidasslipon #golf #linkstreaming #manchestercity #livestreaming #chocolate #zidane #winner #frasitrap #sumbertv #footballfans #pagani #oasisandbeatles #rugby #sunderlandafc #comics #serieatim #crossfit #coyg #chocolatecoffee #liverpoolfc #hotcoffee #neymar #firmino #beatifulgame #ignoranza #Sunday #arsenalnews #vip #manchestercity #mensnightout #BMW #gym #sixtimes #realmadrid #ronaldo #footballstreaming #coutinho #battuteepiche #myfootballuniverse #freekickerz #MyDubai #24x7 #gunners #livesports #commento #Bar #oasisengland #manunited #leicestercity #jadwalbolahariini #cristianoronaldo #klopp #calciatoribrutti #bayern #portsmouthfc #fut #GarageCafeDxb #londoncity #romania #liverpoolcity #midnight #thomasmeunier #seriea #england #Celtic #kickoff #champion #watchlive #footballmeme #boxing #arsenal #acmilan #coys #championship #americanfootball
No comments:
Post a Comment