Gulf Cup deadline passes with no response

AFP

DOHA: A deadline given by Gulf Cup organizers asking Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to play in next month’s tournament, hosted by Qatar, has passed without response.
Organizers said yesterday that they would now meet later this week to decide whether to go ahead with the tournament. However, it looks increasingly likely the Gulf Cup will become the first major sporting casualty of a crisis in the region which has seen the 2022 World Cup host politically and diplomatically isolated by its neighbors since June.
“There was no response, we didn’t receive any responses at all,” said Gulf Cup Football Federation General Secretary Jassim Al-Rumaihi. “A decision will be made on the 16th.”
Asked if he thought any tournament was likely, Rumaihi responded: “I hope so. Let’s be optimistic on this.”
The tournament could still take place but only be played between Qatar, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait and Yemen.
A letter had been sent to the federations in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain asking them if they planned to boycott the eight-team tournament due to begin in Doha on Dec. 22. The deadline passed on Monday. Question marks have been placed over their involvement as Qatar has been isolated for the past five months in a bitter dispute with neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain.
These three are among a group of countries which accuse Qatar of supporting extremism and fostering ties with Iran, charges Doha denies.
Gulf Cup organizers have said they will only go ahead if Kuwait takes part, but to add to the uncertainty, Kuwait’s football association remains suspended by FIFA and it is unclear if its team can play in the tournament.
The Gulf Cup, played every two years, was originally meant to be hosted by Kuwait in 2016 but was moved to Qatar because of the FIFA ban.
Any cancelation of the Gulf Cup could cause embarrassment to Qatar, as it continues its $500 million-a-week preparations for 2022. The final is due to be played in the Khalifa International Stadium, which will host matches in 2022.