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Agence France-Presse

Qatar’s national team could face disciplinary action from Fifa after players warmed up for a World Cup qualifier against South Korea in T-shirts showing support for the country’s emir.
The players prepared for the crucial game in Doha wearing white shirts emblazoned with a profile portrait of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
The image has become a widely-used symbol of defiance by Qataris in response to the current diplomatic crisis in the Gulf which has seen Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain and others cut all ties with Doha.
The T-shirt was also waved by attacking midfielder Hasan Al-Haydos after he put the Qataris 1-0 ahead from a free-kick in the 25th minute.
After scoring Haydos sprinted to the touchline and held up a T-shirt to the crowd.

The show of support from the national football team comes during the worst diplomatic crisis witnessed in the Gulf for years.
Saudi and its allies claim they have moved in response to Qatar’s support for “terrorism”, a charge strongly denied by Doha, which says the diplomatic isolation is “unjust”.
Qatar says World Cup plans continue ‘as normal’ despite diplomatic crisis
Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup finals.
Fifa bans any unsanctioned political, religious or commercial messages on shirts.
Earlier this week in response to the Gulf crisis, Fifa president Gianni Infantino said football’s governing body does “not interfere in geopolitics” and gave his support for the 2022 tournament going ahead in Qatar.

Afterwards, Qatar’s Uruguayan coach Jorge Fossati defended his players and then condemned the “ridiculous situation” of the “blockade” on the emirate.
“I don’t see something that can receive a punishment as it is a T-shirt with a picture of the emir,” he said. “It doesn’t say anything against anybody.”
Qatar strikes defiant tone as no end in sight to Gulf crisis
He added: “I can’t agree with the blockade that is against the people, against the families, many families are damaged, they really don’t deserve this.”
However, there was more drama with Fossati stunning his own federation by apparently resigning moments after his team had beaten South Korea to keep the Gulf nation’s slim World Cup hopes alive.

As a press conference ended early after the 3-2 win, Fossati thanked the Qatari people and journalists in what sounded like a goodbye speech.
Asked by stunned journalists if the game in Doha was his last as national coach, he replied: “Most probably.”
‘Wars fought through PR’: Qatar hires 9/11 attorney general John Ashcroft to prove it fights global terrorism
Following the press conference and cornered outside the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, where his team had just won to retain the slimmest of hopes of qualifying for Russia, Fossati told reporters it was time for a change.
“If the federation agrees, I don’t want to stand in anybody’s way,” he said. “I don’t like to leave the national team but sometimes you must do what you think is right, not what is best for you. You cannot put yourself ahead of everybody.”

He added that Qatari football officials needed to put a long-term plan in place for its development as a football nation.
His announcement seemed to surprise even his own federation. It was announced on Twitter that Qatar Football Association boss Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al-Thani was “surprised” by Fossati’s remarks and would only make a final decision after speaking to the Uruguayan.
To muddy the waters a little further, Fossati said he would be willing to help the national team in any capacity if asked.
“I love Qatar, I want the best for Qatar.”


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Qatar diplomatic crisis

Qatar risk Fifa action after T-shirt protest amid diplomatic crisis in Gulf

Rodrigo Barbosa Tabata (right) and Pedro Correia of Qatar celebrate after beating South Korea at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. Photo: EPA

Qatar's national team players Hasan Al-Haidous (L) and Abdulkarim Hasan (R) wear t-shirts bearing portraits of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, in support the Qatari leader in the ongoing diplomatic crisis surrounding Qatar and other Gulf countries as they warm up prior to their World Cup 2018 Asia qualifying football match between Qatar and South Korea at the Jassim Bin Hamad stadium in Doha on June 13, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / KARIM JAAFAR

Football Soccer - Qatar v South Korea - World Cup 2018 Qualifiers - Doha, Qatar - 13/6/17- A man holds a t-shirt with a picture depicting Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani . The t-shirts read: "Tamim is the glory." REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

epa06026943 Hasan Al Haydos of Qatar celebrates with a t-shirt portrait of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani after scoring a goal against South Korea during their 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualification soccer match at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha- Qatar, 13 June 2017 EPA/Noushad Thekkayil

Qatar's head coach Jorge Fossati reacts on the sidelines during the World Cup 2018 Asia qualifying football match between Qatar and South Korea at the Jassim Bin Hamad stadium in Doha on June 13, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / KARIM JAAFAR

Qatar says World Cup plans continue ‘as normal’ despite diplomatic crisis

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani and Fifa president Gianni Infantino watch the final match of the Qatar Emir Cup together , at the Khalifa International Stadium last month. Photo: Reuters

FILE - In this Thursday Jan. 6, 2011 file photo, a traditional dhow floats in the Corniche Bay of Doha, Qatar, with tall buildings of the financial district in the background. Qatar, now facing a diplomatic crisis with other Arab nations, is a small country with a big history of turmoil and coups as it became one of the world's top suppliers of natural gas and now plans to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das, File)

(170607) -- DOHA, June 7, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Mohammed Must Ali (L) of Qatar vies with Pak Kwang Ryong of DPRK during a friendly soccer match between Qatar and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar, June 6, 2017. The match ended with a 2-2 draw. (Xinhua/Nikku)

FILE PHOTO: A view shows the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, May 18, 2017. REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari/File Photo

Sport

Football

Players prepare for game against South Korea in Doha wearing white shirts emblazoned with profile portrait of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani


Qatar risk Fifa action after T-shirt protest amid diplomatic crisis in Gulf

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Players prepare for game against South Korea in Doha wearing white shirts emblazoned with profile portrait of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani

Players prepare for game against South Korea in Doha wearing white shirts emblazoned with profile portrait of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani