Asian Football

Soccer Fans In The Gulf Vote With Their Feet – A Report

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Soccer is defeating efforts by wealthy, football-crazy Gulf states to impregnate themselves against the wave of protests that have swept the Middle East and North Africa in the past two years and sparked a brutal civil war in Syria. Once a prince’s uncontested playing ground that allowed royals to curry favor, strengthen their families grip … Read more

Players’ complaints overshadow Qatari attempts to project improved workers’ rights

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Employment-related complaints by two international players, one of whom is barred from leaving Qatar, threaten to overshadow the 2022 World Cup organizing committee’s release of a charter of worker’s rights designed to fend off criticism of labor conditions in the Gulf state. In separate interviews French-Algerian player Zahir Belounis, who is locked into a salary … Read more