Geneva: Fifa has fined Qatar’s football federation after national team players breached rules against political statements by displaying T-shirts of the country’s emir at a World Cup qualifier.
Fifa said on Thursday its disciplinary panel imposed a 50,000 Swiss francs fine and reprimanded Qatar, the 2022 World Cup host.
The charges related to “displaying a political image” and “political displays” by fans in Doha, Fifa said.
Qatar player Hassan Al Haydos was also fined 5,000 Swiss francs for unsporting behaviour.
The incidents happened on June 13, amid a dispute with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the UAE.
Qatar’s players warmed up for the game wearing white T-shirts with an image of Emir Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani to show their support for him.
Fans in the Jasem Bin Hamad Stadium also wore and displayed images of the emir.
After Al Haydos scored the opening goal, he took a T-shirt from a spectator and lifted it high in the air.
