It's a severe and merciless punishment - Walid Murad

Walid Murad, the Al Nasr player who was given a life ban from the UAE national team, defended himself and said that he hadn't committed any mistake during the Olympic team trip to Japan last month.

"After we finished our last match against Japan in the Olympic qualifier, which as usual was a free day for the players, I went out of the hotel to make some calls and buy some things.

"After that I returned to the hotel and that's what I did. If I know our mission is not finished, I will not go out," Walid Murad told Gulf News yesterday.

Walid was also suspended for three matches for his club Al Nasr. He will be absent from the first two in the playoffs as well as Thursday's match against Al Jazira.

Walid wondered why the other players who also went out of the hotel were not suspended.

"I am not the only guilty person. I know many others who went out without permission from the team officials. Why was it that only I was punished and not the others, who also violated the regulations as claimed by the officials who handed me the severe punishment," he quipped.

The Al Nasr striker said that he was shocked with the national teams committee's decision to suspend him for life.

"I am very sad with the committee's decision to ban me for life. It's a severe and merciless punishment and I didn't expect it. The life ban is like a death penalty for my future with the national team.

"Any young player's dream is to represent his country and defend its colours. I was eager to do so from the age of 10 while playing in the junior teams for the Al Nasr Club."

Walid said that he respects the committee's decision, but it was severe. "Although I am unhappy with the punishment, I have to respect it because this is their decision. However, I will appeal to the national teams committee and the FA to lift the life ban as I didn't violate the national team regulations."

The Al Nasr striker said that he still had great hopes that the FA and national teams committee will lift the life ban.

"I am still ready to defend the UAE colours and I will spare no effort in doing so. I hope the FA accept my appeal and lift the sanctions," concluded Walid Murad.

The national teams committee decided to impose the ban on Walid in its meeting last week, which the player failed to attend although he was informed to be present and defend his action.

Salah Abbas, the Al Nasr and Olympic team player who also played in the 2004 Athens Olympic qualifiers in Japan, was asked to attend the committee meeting last week, which he duly did and defended himself well in front of the committee, who accepted his apology and pardoned him.