Nasser won't budge on retirement plan

Dubai: Majid Nasser is sticking to his guns on his retirement after receiving a 17-match ban for slapping Al Ahli coach Quique Sanchez Flores on the back of the head last week.

Troubled shot-stopper Nasser, 27, told Gulf News on the sidelines of Al Wasl's 3-1 GCC Champions League group win over Al Riffa on Tuesday: "I've issued my resignation and it's now up to the club to accept. If they don't accept I will have to honour my contract until 2014 out of respect and the support they have shown me, but after this I am definitely retiring.

"It's not an overreaction on my part. I actually feel a lot of pressure from the disciplinary committee. I feel they are against me personally. This is not the first time I've served a ban and all the bans I have been handed are very harsh. I've had a 17-match ban before [for fighting].

"From 2007 until now I've served five suspensions totalling some 30 matches… If others do the same they don't get the same punishment as me.

"Thirty matches is a lot on the club and I don't want to lose fans or the respect of the club and players because this affects them directly. It affects the team as well as me. I don't want to burden anyone or be hated, that's why this decision is final and well thought out.

"It's not about winning anyone's heart or causing drama and wanting to be wanted. People were supporting me even before this announcement."

‘Very sad'

Of his future, Nasser, a police officer by trade, said: "This is not like Europe. Players have other income sources. I have a job and can go back to live off my private businesses. I'm very sad to be leaving football. I might even die. But if I come back I will always feel people are against me."

In Tuesday night's match, Al Wasl went top of Group D in the GCC Champions League after goals from Mariano Donda, Rashid Eisa and Juan Olivera saw off Al Riffa of Bahrain at Zabeel Stadium.

Diego Maradona's Al Wasl went ahead through Mariano Donda via an 11th minute free-kick. Rashid Eisa then converted Saoud Saeed's cross, before Khalifa Abdullah set up Juan Olivera for the third on 34 minutes. Al Riffa pulled one back on 52 minutes through Talal Yousuf.