JEDDAH, 5 November 2007 — The International Football Federation (FIFA) has picked the referees for the Saudi Arabia-Qatar Beijing Olympics Asian qualifying match on Nov. 17 in Dammam. The referees are Hamad Al-Badwawi, Salih Al-Marzougi, Bahrouz Nassir, and Khalid Al-Sinan of UAE.

Rayyan, Ahli Withdraw From Asian Handball

JEDDAH, 5 November 2007 — The sudden withdrawal of Al-Ahli handball club of Saudi Arabia and Qatar’s Al-Rayyan from the 10th Asian Handball Championship for clubs even before the draw took place has forced organizers to form two groups instead of four as per the Asian Handball Federation rules and regulations. The teams notified the organizing committee of their decision well in advance to avoid being penalized. The 12 teams entered in the competition are: Al-Ahli and Al-Najmah of Bahrain, Al-Qadisiyah and Al-Sulibikhat of Kuwait, Folath Mubarak and Shahrdar Karmani of Iran, Al-Sad of Qatar, Al-Jeish and Al-Sadaga of Lebanon, Al-Saltt of Jordan, Al-Nour of Saudi and Al-Ahli of UAE.

Watered Down Soccer Field in Arab Games

JEDDAH, 5 November 2007 — Egyptian Football Federation President Sameer Zahir has made the assurance Egypt, as the hosts, would be fielding their first team in the Pan-Arab Games. This despite the FIFA’s preference not to have the Egypt national team compete in the 11th edition of the multievent competition, a decision Zahir believes was made in order to make sure none of the players get hurt or injured when the African Championship starts and affect the event. The African Football Federation has requested FIFA that it allows Egypt, Sudan and all the countries participating in the African Championship to enter the Pan-Arab Games. Kuwait, however, has been ruled out of this competition after FIFA suspended the Kuwait Football Federation from international competition because of government interference in football. Now only Saudi Arabia, Yemen will play with their first teams in the games’ football event divided into two groups. Libya, UAE, Palestine and Egypt are in Group A, while Saudi Arabia , Sudan, Yemen and Kuwait make up Group B.

GCC Football

JEDDAH, 5 November 2007 — Host Oman announced the 19th GCC Football Championship would be held Jan. 14 to 27, 2009 in Muscat. A new logo for the event will be unveiled in a simply ceremony cum reception on Dec. 8. The 2009 tourney will be the third time Oman is to host the regional event after 1984 and 1996. — Compiled by Naif Muhammed