FIFA imposes $51,800 fine on Qatar

CAIRO – 28 July 2017: FIFA imposed a $51,800 fine on Thursday for Qatar's football federation after national team players wore T-shirts with an image of Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

FIFA said that the Qatari players breached rules against political statements by displaying a political image at a 3-2 win over South Korea in Doha, amid World Cup qualification.

The incidents happened on June 13, amid a dispute with regional rivals Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Qatar’s relations with the Arab quartet have been strained since May 24 following a leaked statement attributed to Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, criticizing Gulf foreign policy with Iran, describing it as “unwise.”

The Qatari position prompted the major Arab powers to adopt urgent and strict measures against Doha. They initially closed their airspace and seaports to Qatari transportation and then made a list of 13 demands, which Qatar dismissed.

Last week, the quartet urged Qatar to commit to six principles on combating extremism and terrorism and negotiate a plan with specific measures to implement them.