Qatar suspends its player Abdelkarim Hassan over FIFA World Cup related social media post

 

By Armstrong Vaz

Doha, Jan 19: Qatar national team player Abdelkarim Hassan - who did duty for the hosts at the FIFA World Cup 2022- has been suspended for an indefinite period, imposed a fine and a percentage of his salary has been deducted, Qatar Football Association (QFA) announced on Thursday through its official Twitter account.

No reasons have been disclosed for the sanctions on the Qatari defender but local media reports indicated that his suspension has something to do with his altercation with a fan over social media following Qatar disappointing loss at the football showpiece event.

The decision to impose the sanctions on the player, according to Qatar News Agency report is based on Clause No. 2 of Article 22 of the professional regulations for local football players and on Article 77/4 and Article 44/1 and 2 and is based on the report submitted by the department of national teams to the general secretariat.

Abdelkarim won the title of best player in Asia in 2018 and won many titles with the Qatari national team, notably the 2019 Asian Cup, in addition to winning several titles with Al Sadd Sports Club.

The 29-year-old rubbed the Qatar fans the wrong way with his SnapChat comment “Relax, do you think it’s war?” which was perceived as a lack of emotion after the country’s embarrassing elimination from the World Cup wherein they lost all their group league matches. Qatar lost Ecuador (2-0), Senegal (3-1), and Netherlands (2-0).

The leak of the conversation led to a barrage of criticism from fans, particularly supporters of his local club Al Saad, with calls to drop their star player. The left-back was dropped from the Qatar Stars League club after rising criticism over the player’s dedication to the team.

Responding to the fans demand, Al Sadd Sports Club, the champions club of Qatar Stars League and for which Abdelkarim was an integral part announced on December 21, the departure of the player from the team due to his “ideology that does not correspond to the goals and aspirations of the team in the next stage.”

Al Sadd did not specify whether his comment to the fan on Snapchat was the reason for the parting of ways.

Besides the suspension for an indefinite period, 50 percent of his salary deduction Abdelkarim has been, issued a warning and fined QR 200,000 ($54,922) by QFA.

Besides Abdelkarim two of his World Cup teammates Bassam Al Rawi, and Mohammed Waad find themselves docked 50 percent of their salaries according to Clause No. 2 of Article 22 of the professional regulations for local football players.

Both, Bassam and Mohammed have been warned by QFA and a fine of QR 100,000 (27,461) and QR 50,000(4 13,730) each has been imposed on them.