AGCFF Executive Committee Holds Meeting to Discuss 23rd Gulf Cup

Doha: Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, President of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) headed a meeting today attended by the Executive Committee of the AGCFF at Al Bidda Tower, to discuss the latest matters relating to the upcoming 23rd Gulf Cup. AGCFF General Secretary Jassim Al Rumaihi was also present in the meeting in addition to representatives from Yemen, Oman, Iraq and Kuwait.

A press conference was held following the meeting in which the AGCFF General Secretary informed the media that it was concluded that AGCFF has officially considered Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain to have withdrawn from the competition as they have not responded to the official participation letters sent by the AGCFF General Secretariat in which they were given a deadline until November 13 to confirm their participation.

It was decided during the meeting to extend Kuwait’s deadline to participate in the competition to November 30 because of the suspension imposed on the federation by FIFA. It was also announced that, should the suspension remain until the given deadline; the tournament would be postponed. Qatar will remain as the rightful hosts of the tournament according to article two of the competition regulations and will decide on a new competition date in coordination with the Executive Committee of the AGCFF.

Jassim Al-Rumaihi said there were positive signs regarding Kuwait’s issue and if the suspension is lifted by November 30, the tournament would be held on time from 23 December,2017 to January 5, 2018 in the Qatari capital Doha.