The Football Association decided, during its meeting yesterday with the videoconference system, headed by Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al-Nuaimi, to cancel all competitions of the Sunni stages and postpone deciding the fate of the Arab Gulf League, the first-class championship, and the final match of the President’s Cup for two weeks to come, after evaluating The situation from all sides and studying all the scenarios and options presented in light of the current health developments related to the emerging coronavirus (Covid 19).

The Football Association had previously decided, in coordination with the Professional League, to suspend football activities for four weeks, as of March 15, as a precaution.

The Secretary-General of the Football Association confirmed that there is expected coordination and meeting with the League of Professionals regarding the fate of the Arab Gulf League and the first and second championships, with continued or not activity, indicating that the decision in this regard will be taken according to the variables, denying the existence of any recommendation from the Football Association to raise the number of league clubs Arab Gulf to 16 clubs during the next season, stressing that this matter was not presented to the Board of Directors, which also discussed the President’s Cup final match between Al Ain and Al Dhafra, and identified several options for its establishment, most notably in next June in the event of continued activity.

The General Secretary of the Football Association, Mohamed Hazam Al-Dhaheri, said after the meeting during a press conference held with representatives of various media through the visual communication system: “The board of directors reviewed the recommendations of the committee, among them the recommendations of the National Teams and Technical Affairs Committee, to hold a session with the first team coach Jovanovich to discuss The team’s program during the coming period, as well as the recommendations of the Competitions Committee, which recommended the cancellation of all competitions for the Sunni stages due to the current circumstances that do not allow the establishment of competitions for the Sunni stages ».

Bin Hazam stressed that "the Football Association cannot currently decide on the Arab Gulf League or the first and second league competitions only after consulting with the competent authorities, given the presence of daily changes under the current circumstances."

He added, “As long as we have time for about two weeks from now to extend the suspension period of the competitions, all options and scenarios must be studied, and the media and clubs will be informed about them according to the existing variables, and we also have a link with other partners, whether the Asian and International Football Associations or others, and our priority in "The Football Association is the safety of everyone before declaring a team victory or the end of the league."

With regard to talking about reducing the salaries of players under the current circumstances, Bin Hazam explained: “The Football Association has not taken any formal decision in this regard, and the decision is not in the hands of the Federation alone, but the clubs are also partners in making such a decision, and we await the recommendations of the International Federation in this regard, Accordingly, we will hold a workshop, and we have sent inquiries in this regard to (FIFA), and the official response came that the International Federation is currently studying this matter, and therefore the Football Association can not take a decision in this regard until after the arrival of (FIFA) recommendations, and it will be There is a workshop with the clubs according to the recommendations of the Status and Transfer Committee for the players, after which it will take place View the matter to the Board of Directors of the Federation ».

Bin Hazam added, "According to my expectations and what we hear in (Social Media), the clubs will consider the issue of reducing the salaries of their players, after they take an example from other patrols."

Regarding the reported visit of the President of the Argentine Federation to the country to sign partnership agreements with the Football Association, Bin Hazam confirmed that they had not received anything formal in this regard, but he affirmed that the Football Association would benefit from such partnerships.

Bin Hazam pointed out that "the Football Association decided to postpone the retreat of the Union to be held at a later time until its goals were achieved." »Confirming that the Football Association thanked the representative of the Football Association in the Executive Office of West Asian Federation Rashid Al-Zaabi, and nominated a member of the Board of Directors, Hamid Al Tayer, for membership of the Executive Office of the West Asian Federation.

Bin Hazam asserted that the Board of Directors had also seen recommendations from the Referees Committee and the Strategy and Investment Committee.

The Football Association also decided to assign the First Vice-President of the Federation, President of the Professional League, Abdullah Al-Junaibi, to head the team formed by the Federation to coordinate and study all developments related to the competitions, and to confirm that the decision to cancel the league or not is within the powers of the Board of Directors of the Association of Professionals.

The Football Association held its videoconference system due to "Corona".

Bin Hazam:

"The Football Association did not make a recommendation to raise the professional clubs to 16 next season."

“The Football Association cannot take a decision on the league except after consulting with the competent authorities.”

The most prominent decisions taken by the Football Association

• Postponing a decision on the fate of the Arabian Gulf competitions and tournaments for two weeks.

• Cancellation of all Sunni stage competitions.

• Studying more than one scenario regarding the final of the President’s Cup, including his residency in next June.

• See the recommendation of the National Teams Committee regarding holding a meeting with the first team coach to discuss the team preparation program.

• The Football Association has not raised any recommendation to the Professional League regarding raising the number of professional clubs next season to 16 instead of 14.

• The nomination of Hamid Al Tayer, member of the Board of Directors, to the membership of the Executive Bureau of the West Asian Union, to succeed former member Rashid Al Zaabi

• Waiting for official recommendations from the International Football Association «FIFA» on reducing player salaries.

• Seeing the resignation of a member of the Board of Directors Saif Al-Mansoori from the membership of the Board of Directors of Al Dhafra Club.