Manama: The Gulf Cup organising committee has backed an effort to get the event on the Fifa calendar during a meeting on the sidelines of the current competition in Manama.
They have accepted Oman’s proposal for a fixed schedule event to be held at the same time as the African Cup of Nations and have nominated OFA chairman Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi to lead the talks with Fifa president Sepp Blatter in a bid to get the event included on world football’s official schedule.
Oman has the most to lose from the tournament’s current set-up, because the lack of Fifa recognition means their goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, who plays for English Premier League side Wigan Athletic, won’t be released to play.
Elsewhere, Basra in Iraq has now been officially approved as the host venue for the 2015 Gulf Cup, but Saudi Arabia has expressed an interest in hijacking the tournament should the Iraqis not be ready in time.
