The UAE authorities prevented the Qatari media delegation from covering the Asian Cup from entering its territory, despite receiving the approval of the AFC governing body and the visa to cover the big event.
The UAE authorities refused to admit five journalists sent by the Qatari Sports and Information Committee of Qatar, Asia and the Arab Federation of Sports Press and were forced to return from Dubai International Airport after arriving through Kuwait Airways flight early on Saturday.
The Qatari Sports Information Committee issued a statement confirming that the actions of the UAE with members of the Qatari media delegation affect the freedom of the media and contradict the statements made by UAE officials.
The Committee said that it was very concerned that the UAE security services continued to restrict journalists and representatives of Qatari sports media with every tournament hosted by the UAE, in clear violation of press freedom.
She called for a full investigation into the incident and expressed her protest at the flagrant violations committed by the UAE for the Asian Cup regulations and laws at the International and Asian Football Confederation.
The international organizations and bodies concerned with human rights and the sports press demanded that the authorities of the UAE against the representatives of the Qatari media be aware of actions that violate human rights and violate the freedom of the media.
The Asian Cup 2019 will be held on Saturday and will run until February 1.