UAE clubs support FA's decision to fine and ban Khalid Al Dhanhani and Sultan Adil
The clubs of the two players thrown out of the UAE team have backed the decision of the Football Association.
The governing body announced on Sunday that Khalid Al Dhanhani and Sultan Adil have been fined and banned for misconduct on national team duty.
The duo were hit with Dh500,000 fines and removed from the squad which travelled to Kyrgyzstan on Sunday evening for a World Cup qualifier.
They will also have to serve five match bans from domestic football.
Although the specifics of the 'violation' have not been made public, the FA's decision has been supported by each of the players' clubs.
In response to the controversy, Al Dhanhani released a social media post asking for forgiveness.
The Sharjah right-back has been one of the mainstays of the national team's quest for World Cup qualification.
He was in the starting XI when the side had their hopes of automatic qualification ended by a goalless draw against Uzbekistan in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
The result means the UAE now face an additional round of matches in their bid to make it to next year's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The new UAE manager, Cosmin Olaroiu, has limited time with his players before that event in October.
As such, he will be frustrated to have lost two key figures from his squad for the last match of round three of Asian qualifying, against Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek.
Al Dhanhani was a pillar of Olaroiu's highly successful spell as Sharjah coach, which was the role he left to take up the UAE post.
His previous employers said they supported the FA's decision, and that they would investigate the issue themselves.
'While the company affirms its full respect for the [FA's] decisions and regulations, it announces that it will initiate the necessary disciplinary measures against the player,' Sharjah wrote in a statement.
'[That will be] in accordance with the club's internal regulations, reflecting its commitment to the principles of discipline and responsibility.
"The club regrets the occurrence of such behaviour during the national team's camp and emphasises that representing the country is a great honour that requires all players to demonstrate professional conduct and complete discipline.
"The club also renews its continued support for the national teams and affirms its commitment to preparing its players to be role models on and off the field, reflecting the honorable image of Emirati football.'
Adil's participation in round three of the qualifying campaign, by contrast to Al Dhanhani's, has been beset by injuries.
The Shabab Al Ahli striker has been limited by a long-standing knee issue to a couple of cameo appearances off the bench.
He has had enough time, though, to make a significant impact that shows his worth. After being sent on at half time in the game against North Korea in Riyadh earlier this year, he scored a dramatic late winner.
That goal guaranteed the UAE's continued participation in the qualifiers. It confirmed the UAE's place at the competition in October, which pits them against the other third and fourth-place finishers from this round of qualifying.
Adil's club, Shabab Al Ahli, said they would 'take the necessary disciplinary measures against the player in accordance with its internal regulations' after he was thrown out.
'The club affirms its strong rejection and condemnation of any behaviour that contravenes the rules and regulations of national teams and the [FA],' the club wrote in a statement.
'[It] renews its firm commitment to supporting the national teams and raising the name of the UAE in regional and international forums.
'Representing the national team is a great honour and a lofty goal for every player. Players are ambassadors for the nation and bear the responsibility of reflecting an honorable image through their commitment to values, discipline, and sportsmanship.'
The national team will have one training session at the Spartak Stadium in Bishkek on Monday, before they face Kyrgyzstan at the same venue the following evening.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
3 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: 9 injured in 20-vehicle collision in Fujairah involving cars, trucks
Nine people suffered minor to moderate injuries following a multiple vehicle collision on the road leading from Waib Al Hannah to Dibba Al Fujairah, Fujairah Police said on Wednesday. The accident involved 16 vehicles and four trucks resulting in a complete closure of the road for traffic. Upon receiving the report, Dibba Al Fujairah Police patrols, supported by the Traffic and Patrols Department, patrols from the Masafi Comprehensive Police Station, and National Ambulance teams, headed to the accident site. They immediately dealt with the situation, provided the necessary support to the injured, organised traffic, and reopened the road to drivers. Emergency response teams from Dibba Al Fujairah Police, the Traffic and Patrols Department, Masafi Comprehensive Police Station, and National Ambulance were immediately dispatched to the scene. Authorities worked swiftly to assist the injured, manage the flow of traffic, and clear the site, eventually reopening the road to motorists. The accident resulted in 8 minor injuries and one moderate injury. All the injured were transferred to the hospital to receive the necessary treatment and medical care.
The National
5 hours ago
- The National
It isn't just government policy that oppresses women in Iran, as recent assaults show
Iranians have lately been engulfed in debates around misogyny, gender roles and violence against women. A few disconnected events have helped push these issues to the top. The body of Elahe Hosseinnejad, 24, was found in a deserted area outside Tehran earlier this month. A nail stylist at a beauty salon, she had been missing for 11 days after getting into a taxi home. The taxi driver was later arrested, having confessed to killing her with a knife. Just days earlier, a coach and two athletes representing Iran at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea were arrested on allegations of sexual assault. A young South Korean woman has accused them of assaulting her in their hotel room after they met in a nearby bar. Iran's athletics federation has confirmed 'inappropriate behaviour' by the three men. The case is ongoing and the accused might face life sentences if convicted. The two events are unrelated but they both involve violence against women and have tested social attitudes. The feminist community has used them to raise awareness while, inevitably, they have become central to broader political controversies. Following the athletes' arrests, many in the sports community called for Ehsan Haddadi, who heads Iran's athletics federation, to resign. A demonstration was held against him in front of Iran's sports ministry last week. They brought up the former discus thrower's own dubious past, including his 2006 conviction and subsequent jail time for harassing a woman. Haddadi has another open sexual harassment case against him, and critics say his appointment shows a culture of impunity in Iran and the government's lack of attention to women's concerns. The government has also drawn criticism over murder case, particular over its inability to provide adequate safety and security to its citizens. They point to a lack of proper public transportation and a sharp increase in crime in recent years. Opponents of the government are debating among themselves, too. Iran has one of the highest number of executions in the world, and critics have advocated for the abolition of the death penalty – a position some of the more conservative opponents disagree with. Another debate pits criticism of the government's competency, or lack thereof, against broader sociopolitical critiques. Some argue that eradicating violence against women requires systemic changes that go beyond politics and that that's where the focus should be. Shocking reactions of some Iranian celebrities to the assault case lends credence to this argument. The US-based influencer Aisan Eslami, with more than 14 million followers on Instagram, has in particular incensed many. In one video, he mockingly said the events in South Korea were of great national pride for Iranians and that the three men had 'held the flag high'. In a later clip, he called the three accused men 'our brothers' and criticised those who were 'getting all honourable' on behalf of the victim (a reference to whom carried racial undertones). This is hardly surprising from Eslami, who is something of an Iranian version of Andrew Tate, the right-wing American influencer. Previously, Eslami verbally attacked female Iranian influencers based in Dubai, openly calling for their male relatives to murder them for what he saw as inappropriate online behaviour on their part. But Eslami isn't the only figure to downplay the assault case. Mohammad Mayeli Kohan, a former national football team coach, said what the Iranian athletes did was 'indubitably ugly' but also accused Haddadi's opponents of seeking 'personal revenge' against him. More troublingly, he added: 'In South Korea, such issues are not viewed so negatively. We have to see why they made a big deal out of this one.' Eradicating violence against women requires systemic changes that go beyond politics Javad Kazemian, a former footballer, said: 'Such things are natural and they happen everywhere in the world … they are making too much out of this. Let's be men and human and think what we would have done had this happened to ourselves?' It's worth pointing out that Eslami, Mayeli Kohan and Kazemian have all faced backlash for their comments. Just as heartening are the reactions of other Iranians. For example, Ehsan Mohajer Shojaei, who competed in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, said the 'catastrophe' in South Korea made him ashamed to be an Iranian athlete. He also called for Haddadi to resign. Another issue that has fuelled gender-based debates, albeit on a much lighter register, relates to a pioneering reality TV show that has captured millions of views since its debut last month. Eternal Love is modelled after the Love Island franchise that began in the UK in 2005 and has since expanded to other countries. The Iranian version is set in Bodrum, Turkey and is produced by a Turkish company that also brought out versions based in Turkey and some Arab countries. Hosted by the Iranian actress Parastoo Salehi, the show is broadcast on YouTube to overcome Iran's strict censorship rules. Its first episode was viewed more than 7.5 million times, and the show has 1.5 million followers on Instagram. Like its western counterparts, it features frank discussions and depictions of sexuality and romance. Such portrayals are not particularly new to Iranian audiences who are used to open programming broadcast to the country by Persian-language outlets based abroad. But the show is still the first of its kind, which explains its large viewing numbers. But Eternal Love has also provoked debates on attitudes towards gender. In an episode aired this week, a male participant was seen pushing a female contestant, leading to an avalanche of public discussions on domestic violence. All three instances, troubling as they are in varying degrees – and the widespread reactions to them – have shed much-needed light on gender-based issues in Iran. They are also a reminder that these issues are not always directly linked to repressive government policies. They can surface anywhere.
The National
7 hours ago
- The National
Victor Nunes and Muhidin Abubakar face off for UAE Warriors interim flyweight crown
After five years of waiting, Victor Nunes finally has the opportunity to win an MMA belt when he takes on Somali British fighter Muhidin Abubakar in the interim flyweight championship at the UAE Warriors 60 this weekend. The Abu Dhabi promotion is staging their second back-to-back fight cards with Arabia versus Africa on Thursday and the international card on Friday, both at the Space 42 Arena in Abu Dhabi. Nunes, 33 and who has lived in Abu Dhabi for the past seven years, arrives on the back of a 6-1 (win/loss) record in the promotion and 11-5 overall tally. The Brazilian won his last three fights quite impressively, with a unanimous decision over Aaron Aby of Wales followed by two first round stoppages of Jordanian Nawras Abzakh and Genil Francisco of the Philippines. 'I'm very happy for this moment which I have been waiting for the last five years – to fight for a title in front of my family, friends and colleagues,' Nunes told The National at the pre-fight media day on Wednesday. 'I had a great camp for this fight and I'm more than ready to get this belt. Abu Dhabi is one of the best places to train and have a pre-fight camp in the best facilities and with so many of my colleagues around.' With the title at stake, Nunes is confident ahead of the biggest fight night of his career. 'I have never been in a title fight, but I have been working hard to get there, and now that I have earned it, there's no stopping me from going on to get the belt,' he said. 'I don't know how tough my opponent is going to be. I can only know when I actually take him on. He has fought in many promotions and in different countries, but I have been working in all areas and more than ready for a win on the night.' His opponent Abubakar's debut in Abu Dhabi ended in defeat to South African Luthando Biko back in September 2023. That was his only loss, and he's since bounced back with six straight wins. The last two were in the UAE Warriors – a unanimous decision over South African Gift Walker and Chilean Alfredo Muaiad in round one. Abubakar's overall record of 9-1 looks pretty good and the 26-year-old is equally confident of walking away with the interim championship. 'For me, it's another fight and another opponent. My preparations have been like any other, but I feel at the top of my game for a championship contest,' he said. 'I have proved that in my last two visits to Abu Dhabi. Obviously, I have earned this moment and I'm ready and confident to achieve what I have been working for.' Aside from the main card, another interesting contest is the co-main event between Brazilian Vinicius Moreira and Canadian Tanner Boser in the 265lbs division that also includes ten other contests. The interim title belt is a new addition to the promotion after existing belt holders moved on to bigger international events and institutions. 'The UFC is the biggest. They stand at the helm of the MMA world, and we have lost a few fighters to them,' Fouad Darwish, chief executive of Palms Sports, said. 'But I don't consider this loss. They have moved and we are very cognizant of where we stand. I'm not saying we compete with them. 'On the contrary, we like to be the funnel that sends fighters to them. It gives me pride and pleasure that many of our fighters are going there. So, we have lost people with titles. 'It was difficult for us to continue seeing titles being lost for those who would come and fight with us one or two fights and they leave. So, we had to create something that would create more time and give a twist for getting an undisputed belt.' The action begins with the 13-fight Arabia versus Africa card, highlighted by the bantamweight contest between Abdul Hussein and Sami Yahia and the co-main fight of Islem Masraf and Diego Bandu.
