UAE coach Mahdi Ali hopes to tie up new contract

Dubai: UAE coach Mahdi Ali said he hopes to tie up a four-year contract extension before departing for next month’s Asian Cup in Australia.

The 2013 Gulf Cup-winning tactician had reportedly agreed in principle to a four-year extension of his original three-year deal from 2012 in the summer, but he has yet to put pen to paper.

“We sat with the UAE Football Association President [Yousuf Al Sarkal] and hopefully we can reach an agreement,” Ali, whose side finished third in last month’s Gulf Cup in Saudi Arabia, told media here on Wednesday.

“Hopefully this can be sorted before we leave for the Asian Cup. We have an important period coming up. It’s the first time for this group to play in an Asian Cup and then we have the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup qualifications.”

Meanwhile, Ali said he stood by his decision to recall Majed Nasser to the Whites squad for the Asian Cup despite the goalkeeper’s troubled past.

Nasser was fined Dh200,000 and banned for six months for spitting at a referee in Al Ahli’s 1-1 draw at home to Al Ain in October. The ban was later overturned on appeal.

“Before we announced the squad I went to Al Ahli and sat down with the player and we discussed the matter,” Ali said. “We want to give him a second chance. He promised to abide by our rules and training regimes, and that he will keep out of trouble. He’s turning over a new page. We want to benefit from his presence and it’s a chance for him to prove that he is up to the responsibility.”

This was by no means the first offence for Nasser, who has previously been reprimanded for slapping, headbutting and throwing rocks and chairs in verbal and physical attacks on fellow players and officials.