Tag: Almoez Ali

His exploits in his country’s 6-0 thrashing of North Korea were cheered by just one fan sporting the Gulf country’s colors. The one flag-waving fan in Qatar’s maroon colors Sunday was a South Korean woman who had traveled from her homeland to root for Qatar, according to Qatari officials. But the blockade’s effects on the tournament is not difficult to spot. Local organizers and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council were not made available for interviews. As it did during last summer’s World Cup, beoutQ is broadcasting the Asian Cup in its entirety, overlaying beIN’s logo with its own. At an under-19 game between the U.A.E. But the players were briefed to avoid discussing politics ahead of the Saudi Arabia match. Asked about the political implications of the game, Saudi Arabia’s captain and its coach both demurred, saying those thoughts were for others. “We appreciate the support because she’s the only fan who holds the Qatari flag in the U.A.E.,” al-Salat said. Qataris now need special clearance and two layers of vetting to travel into the Emirates, where many have family members.