15/10/2025
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15/10/2025
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DOHA, Oct 15: The United Arab Emirates national football team face potential disciplinary action following violent scenes during their World Cup qualifying match against Qatar in Doha on Tuesday night.
Qatar secured qualification for their second consecutive World Cup after a tense 2-1 victory over the UAE at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, topping their three-team playoff group and earning direct progression to next year’s finals in North America.
The UAE, meanwhile, still retains a slim path to qualification — but their hopes could now be complicated by possible sanctions from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) or FIFA for the crowd disturbances that marred the encounter.
Violence Erupts After Qatar’s Opening Goal
The trouble began when Boualem Khoukhi celebrated Qatar’s opening goal in front of the UAE supporters’ section, prompting an angry reaction from the traveling fans, who hurled sandals, plastic bottles, and cups onto the pitch.
Security personnel, along with several UAE players, intervened to calm the situation, but one of Qatar’s coaching staff members was struck in the back by a thrown object.
Tensions escalated further when Pedro Miguel scored Qatar’s second goal and celebrated toward the UAE crowd, triggering renewed chaos.
In a shocking scene, two individuals wearing green bibs identifying them as accredited photographers were caught on video throwing objects — including a shoe — before engaging in a physical altercation. Several fans also breached security barriers and entered the field as police struggled to regain control.
Objects continued to rain down from both sets of supporters even after play resumed, creating a hostile and volatile atmosphere reminiscent of the infamous 2019 Asian Cup semi-final in Abu Dhabi, when similar unrest occurred during Qatar’s 4-0 win over the UAE.
That earlier incident led to the UAE being fined and ordered to play one home match behind closed doors. The recurrence of such behavior could now result in harsher penalties — potentially affecting their upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Iraq.
No Official Statement Yet
Neither the UAE Football Association nor the Qatar Football Association has issued an official statement regarding the disturbances. It also remains unclear whether any arrests were made following the incident.
UAE Coach Criticizes Tournament Setup
UAE coach Cosmin Olaroiu condemned the crowd trouble but insisted it was not one-sided, saying:
“It happened from both sides. It was not OK, but what can we do?”
Olaroiu suggested that frustration among UAE supporters may have been fueled by what they perceived as unfair conditions surrounding the playoff organization.
He pointed out that Qatar were granted home advantage, despite finishing below the UAE in the previous qualifying round, and that the ticket allocation for UAE fans was limited to just eight percent of the stadium — though visibly more fans managed to attend.
The UAE section was reportedly overcrowded, with supporters standing in aisles and gangways due to a lack of seating.
Additionally, Qatar had six days of rest between matches, compared to only three for the UAE, which Olaroiu described as “unfair scheduling.”
“When you play these kinds of tournaments, all teams should have an equal chance,” he said.
“It was simple — neutral venues should have been used for both groups. But now it’s too late. We have to look at ourselves and learn from it.”
Qatar Coach Calls for Calm
Qatar’s coach Julen Lopetegui acknowledged the passion of the fans but strongly condemned the violence, calling for respect and restraint.
“We have to avoid this kind of situation,” he said.
“These are dangerous incidents that can harm the image of football. We all want passion and celebration, but we must ensure that football remains a sport that unites, not divides.”
Potential Consequences
The AFC’s disciplinary committee is expected to review match reports and video evidence before determining the UAE’s punishment. Sanctions could range from fines and stadium bans to stricter disciplinary measures impacting future qualifiers.
For now, the UAE’s road to the World Cup remains uncertain — not just on the pitch, but also in the corridors of football governance.
