Fifa has imposed sanctions on officials from both the United Arab Emirates and Qatar following a heated 2026 World Cup qualifying match on October 14, 2025.
In a statement, the Fifa Disciplinary Committee confirmed that Matar Obaid Saeed Mesfer Al Dhaheri, supervisor of the UAE national team, received a 16-match suspension and a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs (approximately Dh45,500) for unsporting behavior toward an opponent and assaulting the referee.
Qatari player Tarek Salman was also penalized, handed a two-match suspension and a fine of 5,000 Swiss francs (about Dh22,750) for serious foul play.
The sanctions followed a tense showdown at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, where Qatar edged out the UAE 2–1 to advance to the next round. Boualem Khoukhi and Ró-Ró scored for the hosts, while the UAE’s efforts fell short despite a spirited performance.
The match drew widespread attention for its intensity and officiating controversies. Fans took to social media to express frustration, with one user on X posting: “The referees allowed for this to happen, an obvious way to waste time and with multiple fouls and dives that were not accounted for. We should not have lost this match.”
