Opinion | Qatar’s controversial 2022 World Cup back in the spotlight as spat highlights challenges ahead
Diplomatic crisis sweeping the region could have long-term repercussions for the country’s sports ambitions
Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic ties with Qatar. They were later joined by Libya, Yemen and Mauritius, effectively isolating their neighbour. While the scale and speed of this action took some by surprise, trouble had been brewing for some time.
Two weeks earlier, several countries had blocked Qatari news sites, following statements on social media purportedly made by the Qatari emir criticising Saudi Arabia. Doha officials responded claiming that the news was the result of a “shameful cybercrime”.
In truth however, the matter goes much further back than what might seem like a short-term diplomatic spat.
In 2014, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates pulled their ambassadors out of Qatar after its alleged interference in their domestic affairs.
Similar allegations are currently being made, with an official Saudi statement accusing Doha of collaborating with Iranian-backed terrorist groups in the east of the country, and in Bahrain.
However, there is more to concerns among Qatar’s neighbours about the world’s richest per capita nation.