Two players thrown out of the UAE squad

Dubai: UAE national team players Ali Abbas and Sibait Khater have been dismissed from the squad after returning to the training camp in the early hours of the morning.

They were expelled on Monday after they left the training camp at Grand Hayat without permission from the team manager and returned after their curfew.

Obaid Al Shamssi, the national teams committee deputy chairman, said: "Ali Abbas went out and returned at two in the morning, while Sibait Khater went out and returned the next day at 9am.

"Players have to be inside their rooms at 11pm sleeping. We decided to dismiss them to keep discipline in the team and to put an end for the disarray and severe punishment will be awaiting them by the FA."

Ali Abbas, in a TV interview, said he went out for only half an hour.

"I do not think half an hour outside the hotel will dismiss me from the training camp.

"It's true that I didn't take permission from the team manager, but I take this opportunity to apologise to the FA President for what I did which happened unwillingly."

Esmail Rashid, the UAE team manager, said Ali Abbas returned late in the night and he was not absent for just half an hour.

"We know the time Abbas spent outside. He was not in his room till two in the morning. Players doing national team duty have to be good example for young players," Rashid said.