World Cup 2022: banned Sayed Baqer back in Bahrain squad to face Hong Kong
- Defender was suspended for 10 games and fined US30,000 for racist gesture directed towards supporters in Hong Kong Stadium
- Teams will meet in Bahrain for Fifa World Cup qualifiers on June 15 despite Covid-19 spike in country
The Riffa SC defender, one of 13 players from the Bahrain league and cup champions in the 23-player squad, was at the centre of controversy when the teams met at Hong Kong Stadium in November 2019, and the hosts held the visitors to a 0-0 draw.
Baqer appeared frustrated at the time-wasting tactics employed by some of the home players as the clock ran down. A small fracas broke out after full-time, with home fans jeering the Bahrain players as they left the field.
Video captured Baqer making an apparent slant-eyed gesture at those home fans before going down the tunnel.
Social media users were left outraged by Baqer’s gesture, with many calling for governing body Fifa to take action against the Bahraini.
The Hong Kong Football Association reported the incident after the match commissioner’s report did not mention Baqer’s alleged racist gesture.
Fifa opens proceeding on footballer’s ‘slant-eyed’ gesture at Hong Kong fans
“HKFA received the match commissioner report from the game and there was no mention of any incident. Therefore HKFA will report the matter,” the HKFA said at the time, after Fifa confirmed that disciplinary procedures had been opened.
Baqer was handed a 10-match ban by Fifa and a US$30,500 fine for two breaches of their disciplinary code. The global governing body also issued a warning against the then 25-year-old defender, who was playing his club football for Kuwaiti side Al-Nasr at the time.
That was welcomed by Hong Kong FA chairman Pui Kwan-kay. “There is zero tolerance for such behaviour. We hope the players can learn from it,” he said at the time.
While Bahrain coach Helio Sousa said he did not see the incident in his post-match press conference, Hong Kong boss Mixu Paatelainen called for respect in the days after the Bahrain game.
“I don’t want to discuss specific incidents, but all in all, we need to respect each other [and] the opponents,” said the Finn, who earned his first win since becoming Hong Kong boss in April. “Yes, we try to get the better of them but we respect them and we should always behave accordingly, that’s for sure.
“Nobody wants to see aggravation out there – sometimes that happens. I call it handbags, and the boys had their handbags out and had a couple of swings, that was it.
Fifa hands 10-match ban to player for racist gesture towards Hong Kong fans
“The bottom line is that you always respect the opponent, respect the officials, respect the fans, and everybody involved.”
The Finn has rung the changes for the trip to Bahrain, where the side will also face Iran and Iraq. All three teams are above Hong Kong who are fourth in the five team group ahead of Cambodia. Hong Kong are set to meet the hosts at Bahrain National Stadium on June 15.
However, the Covid-19 situation in Bahrain – where there are more than 1,500 daily new cases – is a cause for concern for the AFC.
