Bahrain not to pull out

Bahrain changed their minds of withdrawing from the ongoing 15th Gulf Cup following the meeting of their official delegation.

The delegation was headed by Sheikh Eissa bin Rashid Al Khalifa, the Vice President of the Supreme Council of Youth and Sports in Bahrain. The delegation held discussions with players yesterday after Sheikh Eissa arrived in Riyadh.

The Bahrain players late on Tuesday had signed a letter addressed to Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa asking for the withdrawal of their team. They players were protesting the refereeing of during their matches. Bahrain have so far played three matches in the tournament one each against Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

From three matches they have logged only one point though the team won praise for their outstanding performance in all three matches.

Bahrain players said that they were being treated unfairly in all three matches and that led to losing valuable points. This development threatens to diminish the achievements the team gained last year especially in the Asian qualifiers where they beat Kuwait and Iran.

Bahrain have protested officially against the referee of their match against Saudi Arabia.

According to Bahrain players referee disallowed a correct goal for them and allowed a wrong goal for the Saudis in addition to the sending off of their player Ibrahim Al Mishkhass.

Against Kuwait, the referee also sent off their star defender Mohammed Hussain although Kuwait's striker Faraj Laheeb, who was fouled, was off side and Hussain did not tackle him from behind and actually he was going for the ball. The sending off happened only 17 minutes into the match.

Sheikh Fawaz said after meeting the players that they feel dejected and unfairly treated and lost the desire to continue in the competition.

Bahrain's captain Faisal Abdul Aziz said that his colleagues have lost interest in the tournament and it would be better if they were allowed to go back home in such circumstances where they have been a victim of bad refereeing in all their matches.

"It was unacceptable to play your heart out and then a referee comes and deprive you of your efforts. We are being a victim of the referee's and we have no intention to continue in the competition."

Sheikh Eissa bin Rashid returned from Bahrain when he was told about the players' decision late on Tuesday night and met with the official delegation and the players. Sheikh Eissa decided to continue in the tournament to preserve the noble aims of the Gulf Cup that are more important than winning or losing the trophies and matches.

Bahrain had withdrawn from the second Gulf Cup in 1972, also in Riyadh, protesting the refereeing of the tournament.

In a press conference held yesterday by Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the Vice President of Bahrain FA, said that the Bahrain delegation have decided to continue in the championship.

They also decided to award each of their team members SR 10,000 and to refuse to play in any match officiated by referee Rune Pedersen, from Norway, who officated their match against Kuwait on Tuesday.