Qatari and Emirati families support “Al-Abyad” in the stands (Al-Jazeera)

Doha

- “The nail is what emerges from the flesh.” This popular proverb is the most eloquent expression of the solidarity of Qatari-Emirati families in the stands of Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium to support the UAE national team against Tajikistan in the 16-final of the Qatar 2023 Asian Cup.

There were many stories of public support for the Emirates. Omar and Muhammad Al-Amri came from the Emirates, and accompanied by their cousins ​​in Qatar Tamim, Hamad and Abdul Rahman to the match, raising the “white” flags in order to support the national team, where they sat in the stands and chanted throughout the match.

Football is a gain and a loss, and despite the UAE’s sad exit from the tournament after losing on penalties (3-5), the scene of the spirit of brotherhood and cohesion in the stadiums between relatives and families from Qatari and Emirati families has become the real gain.

Omar explains that he and his brother have been with his aunt for about 10 days. He attended the Palestine and Iran matches, and enjoyed the fun atmosphere of the tournament very much. He also watched Qatar’s last match with China with his cousins.

Omar told Al Jazeera Net that, "Since he was young, he always comes to Qatar with his relatives, especially since the distance is not far between the two countries, and the opposite also happens, as they come to us in the Emirates."

He adds that he has visited Qatar a lot recently, where he also attended the 2022 Qatar World Cup finals, and enjoyed the atmosphere with his cousins ​​and attended some matches.

A Qatari family came to the stadium to support the UAE national team (Al Jazeera)

Our bay is one

As for Hamad, he believes that his presence with his cousins ​​on the field to support the Al-Abyad team is normal, because “Qatar and the Emirates are one,” as he supports everything Gulf.

Hamad told Al Jazeera Net that our families, relatives, uncles, and aunts are in the Emirates and vice versa, as well as in other Gulf countries, so we Qataris support everyone who is Gulf because our blood is one, our spirit is one, and our Gulf is one.

He adds that football brings people together, and that the State of Qatar always unites and does not divide, and I am proud to be a Qatari and a Gulf national.

As for Qatari Ali Al-Mohammadi, he came with his four children to the match stadium carrying Emirati flags, in one of the stories of public support for the Emirates national team in its important match.

Al-Muhammadi told Al-Jazeera Net that his sister and his aunt are married in the Emirates, and that his presence and support for Al-Abyad against Tajikistan is normal, as it is illogical to encourage a competitor to the Emirates.

He adds that his presence is "a message of support for our family and relatives in the Emirates. We are one people and one family, and nails do not emerge from flesh."

Qatari fan Bender Bin Misfer came with his Emirati friend Mohammed Al Mansouri to support Al Abyad, and he believes that “it is the duty of the Qataris to support their Emirati brothers on this occasion.”

Binder told Al Jazeera Net that the Gulf people are one unit, and their victory is our victory and we rejoice for their joy, and therefore we are always there to support everyone who is Gulf.

Mishal Abdel Hadi hopes that a Gulf team will win the Asian Cup title (Al Jazeera)

Support and assistance

While Qatari fan Abdulaziz Al Haram also attended, accompanied by his son Mohammed, to support and support the Emirates, he stressed that his presence to support the Emirates is a message to our family and relatives there that we are with them heart and soul.

Al-Haram told Al-Jazeera Net that he hopes that the final match of the Asian Gulf Championship will be purely Gulf, as it will have a special taste. For us, the Gulf Championship is a global championship and we are waiting for it from one version to another.

Fan Meshal Abdul Hadi also attended, accompanied by his wife and children, to support the UAE national team, stressing that the Gulf countries are of one blood, and that he supports all Gulf teams, and hopes that a Gulf team will win the title.

Despite the loss and bidding farewell to the tournament, the stories of public support for the UAE against Tajikistan are many and different. Ahmed Al-Rahimi Al-Rashidi traveled 500 kilometers in his car to support Al-Abyad from Khor Fakkan in the UAE until arriving in Doha.

Al-Rahimi, who left immediately after the match ended to return to his country, came to the match stadium early and stayed for more than 6 hours, a period of time longer than his car trip from the Emirates to Qatar.

He adds that his passion for football and his love for supporting his country's national team is what prompted him to embark on this journey alone.

In the same way as Al-Rahimi, Emirati fan Zayed Al-Hadrami (33 years old) kept coming in his car to Qatar to support the UAE national team in its four matches in the Asian Championship.

Al-Hadrami told Al-Jazeera Net that his passion and love for football, as well as for supporting and supporting everything that is Emirati, is the main reason for making this trip, which does not exceed 24 hours, for every Al-Abyad match.

He considers that the matter is not cumbersome, and that traveling between the Emirates and Qatar is normal, as it is considered a private trip if you come with friends.

Al-Rahimi traveled about 500 km to support the UAE in the eighth-final match (Al-Jazeera)

National duty

Emirati fan Mohammed Al-Bishr also came with his family to Doha on the night of the UAE-Tajikistan match to support his country’s national team.

Al-Bishr told Al-Jazeera Net that supporting his country's national team is a national duty, which is what made him come to Doha for 48 hours, especially since flights between the two countries do not take more than 90 minutes.

He adds that he knows that the UAE national team's performance was not good in previous matches, and that it needs development, and that there is a question mark over the absence of Ali Mabkhout from the squad, and "but I could not stop and not come to support the team."

Like humans, fans Abdullah Nasser, Khalifa Al Suwaidi and Khalfan Al Shamsi attended for 48 hours to support their country’s team on the night of the match, and then returned on the second day. Despite their high hopes of repeating the trip in the quarter-finals, the UAE bid farewell to the competitions early.

The majority of UAE national team fans unanimously agreed that the absence of Ali Mabkhout from the national team squad constitutes a big question mark in light of his distinguished levels in the general league with Al Jazira, in addition to being the team’s top scorer. However, they stressed their respect for the technical opinion of the Portuguese coach Paulo Bento, the national team’s coach.

The UAE lost to Tajikistan on penalties (3-5) after the end of regular and extra time in a 1-1 draw in the match played between them in the 16th round of the Asian Championship.

Source: Al Jazeera