Qatar Win Blockade Derby: UAE Fans Hurl Shoes as Rivals Reach Asian Cup Final

11:57 GMT, 29 January 2019

The United Arab Emirates has taken Saudi Arabia's side in a feud with Qatar, which has been going on for nearly two years. So there was a lot of tension when Qatar and the UAE clashed in Tuesday's Asian Cup semi-final.

Sputnik

Qatar thrashed the United Arab Emirates 4-0 on Tuesday, 29 January, in a game which was tarnished when the host team's fans threw shoes onto the pitch, a grave insult in Arabic culture.

Japan reached the Asian Cup final on Monday, 28 January, when they beat Iran 3-0 and they will take on Qatar on Friday.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt have imposed a diplomatic, trade and transport boycott of Qatar since June 2017 after accusing Doha of supporting terrorism.

The feud is thought to have more to do with a regional power struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran, with Qatar seen to be too friendly with Tehran.

For the last two years the media in Dubai and Abu Dhabi has been pumping out endless propaganda, demonising the Qataris.

So when Qatar's players walked onto the pitch at the 43,000-seater Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, 29 January, they received a hostile reception from UAE fans, who have been given free tickets by the government.

Qatari Fans Not Allowed to Attend Match

Qatari nationals are currently banned from entering the UAE without a special permit, so Qatar had little vocal backing. But it did not stop them beating one of the tournament's favourites, South Korea, in the quarter final and it did not stop them beating the UAE.

Some citizens of neighbouring Oman — which has taken a neutral stance during the dispute — have taken to supporting Qatar at games, despite a law which says showing support for Qatar is punishable with 15 years in jail.

Qatar's Spanish coach Felix Sanchez Bas — who started out as a youth coach with Barcelona — has played down the significance of the dispute, which has led to the game being dubbed the "blockade derby".