Int’l police forces to participate in organizing 2022 World Cup

CAIRO – 6 November 2017: International police forces from all over the world are expected to participate in organizing the 2022 FIFA World Cup competition held in Qatar, according to Ali Mohammed Al-Ali, deputy executive director for security; reported Times Live on November 5.

He added that these forces’ major role will be to prevent any riot caused by hooliganism during the competition, especially after the well-known clashes that took place between English and Russian fans at the 2016 Euros in France. The fear of similar troubles since then has increased during international competitions.

Al-Ali, who is working with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, affirmed in his statements that his country will be the only one that has been preparing for the competition for nearly ten years; he also claimed that it would be "the safest World Cup in the world."

According to Times Live, about 1.3 million fans are expected to visit Qatar during the competition; however Qatar’s political and diplomatic situation makes the scene even more complicated.

Qatar has been struggling with deteriorating diplomatic relations with several countries around the world including the Arab quartet (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE).

As a consequence, several internal political and economic problems have appeared; which puts all the Qatari preparation claims in doubt before the world.

The Arab quartet decided to cut all of its diplomatic ties with Qatar on June 5, hurling allegations that the state supports terrorism. Ports and airspace were cut off to Qatari vessels.

On June 6, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Ahmad Al-Sabah started a tour that included Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar in an attempt to mediate between the three countries.

A list of 13-demands was given to Doha’s government by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain for reconciliation which includes the closing of Al-Jazeera broadcasting; however, Qatar’s response was described as “negative” by the four countries’ foreign ministers in a joint statement released after holding a summit in Cairo on July 5.