There are simply 4 remaining nations on this yr’s FIFA Arab Cup held in Qatar forward of tomorrow’s semi-final fixtures (15 December, 2021): Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, and the host nation. They adopted thrilling quarter-final video games which noticed Qatar thrash UAE 5-0 and Algeria’s dramatic victory over rivals, Morocco, on penalties.
Qatar and Algeria’s encounter will probably be particularly promising as each nations are reigning champions of the Asian and African continents, respectively, whereas North African soccer powerhouse, Egypt, is essentially the most profitable crew on the continent. Tunisia has solely gained the Africa Cup of Nations as soon as, once they hosted it, and in addition gained the first-ever Arab Cup 58 years in the past when the match began in 1963.
🏆 That trophy is one step nearer for our #FIFArabCup semi-finalists 🔢
😍 And what a last-four line-up it’s 👌 pic.twitter.com/o9CBOftlbz
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 11, 2021
As the one remaining crew to have gained all their matches within the Arab Cup up to now, Qatar has a superb likelihood of being topped champion, though an all-North African closing will happen on 18 December, ought to Qatar fail to beat Algeria tomorrow. The date can also be important, as it’s the Gulf State’s nationwide day, commemorating the muse of the fashionable state in 1878. If Qatar have been to win the Arab Cup on such an event, it should additional increase the nation’s worldwide status and comfortable energy forward of subsequent yr’s even larger sporting occasion, the World Cup which it should even be internet hosting and, moreover, it is going to be the first-ever to be held within the Arab world.
Nevertheless, any political objectives Qatar could have scored on this yr’s Arab Cup could pale compared to the inclusion of a sure nation’s crew and its flag throughout the match’s opening ceremony – the Syrian Arab Republic.
Qatar actually paid billions of {dollars} to terrorist teams, as a way to set up a puppet authorities in Syria, to vary its flag and the nationwide anthem. However Syrians resisted and gained 🇸🇾🇸🇾🇸🇾
Video at present from the opening ceremony of #FIFArabCup pic.twitter.com/cX08UaIES1
— Kevork Almassian🇸🇾🇦🇲 (@KevorkAlmassian) November 30, 2021
Beginning out shedding to the UAE, the Syrian nationwide facet beat semi-finalists, Tunisia, 2-1 earlier than unceremoniously exiting the group phases after struggling a defeat by Mauritania final week. Though not a powerful marketing campaign, the very sight of the nationwide flag because the occasion kicked off in Doha should have certainly been a bitter tablet to swallow for hosts Qatar, if not considerably awkward.
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That is so as a result of, regardless of Qatar spending billions (2013 estimates put the quantity at $3 billion) on Syrian opposition factions and being on the forefront of the free coalition of nations intent on isolating Damascus and toppling the federal government of President Bashar Al-Assad, the Syrian Arab Republic, although weakened from a decade of battle and civil strife, has managed to tug by way of and survive, give or take the bastion of opposition in Idlib and the semi-autonomous Kurdish-dominated enclave in north-east and, unquestionably, with the assist of Russia, Iran, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah motion.
Among the many recipients of Qatar’s monetary assist, has been Al-Qaeda affiliate, Al-Nusra, since re-branded as Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) which dominates the Idlib stronghold and, based on a lawsuit filed in London in July, the Qatari state and the ruling Al-Thani household implicated on the very high, are alleged to have funnelled “tons of of tens of millions of {dollars}” to jihadists in Syria.
In fact, Qatar was not the one Gulf Arab state to change into concerned in Syria, as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE have all financed or armed opposition factions, generally rival ones to these backed by Qatar and shut ally, Turkey. Finally, this was detrimental to any prospects of a unified, coordinated opposition to Damascus, along with being one of many grievances by Riyadh that led to the Gulf diplomatic crisis of 2017, specifically Qatar’s insistence in forging its personal regional coverage that conflicted with the Saudi-led bloc. Virtually a yr on, since final yr’s Gulf Summit at Saudi’s Al-Ula that ended the rift with Doha, the 42nd summit at the moment being held in Riyadh will give attention to a number of key points, chief amongst them safety considerations over Iran’s nuclear programme but additionally different regional developments, together with the state of affairs in Syria.
Discussions revolving across the latter come amid mounting hypothesis that Syria might properly be re-admitted into the Arab League after it was expelled over its extreme repression of the 2011 uprising and indicators that different Arab states are contemplating normalising ties with Damascus.
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In October, Jordan’s King Abdullah II had a phone dialog with Assad, the primary such communication for the reason that battle started, whereas the UAE has been notable for resuming ties with Syria following its 2018 resolution to reopen its embassy in Damascus and, extra just lately, International Minister Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan’s visit to town final month. A transfer that the US discovered regarding. Regardless of this, his Qatar counterpart, Mohammed Al-Thani, known as on a halt to normalisation with Assad and reiterated Doha’s place on Syria.
Nevertheless, all through the last decade Qatar seems to have misplaced curiosity in Syria or, at the least its enthusiasm, for supporting a “revolution” within the nation as a substitute of leaving essential negotiations for a political resolution going ahead to be overseen by Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
The Syrian nationwide crew’s presence and, particularly, the nation’s proud show because the Arab Cup kicked off in Doha, actually divided opinions amongst Syrians themselves being condemned by activists and welcomed by pro-government supporters. In keeping with one Syrian journalist and activist, Wafa Ali Mustafa, the inclusion of the Syrian anthem and the “Assad regime’s flag” meant that “Qatar was by no means actually our ally” however acknowledged it was a transparent indicator of the worldwide rehabilitation of Syria’s Assad.
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It could not be far-fetched to anticipate to see Syria’s return to the Arab League within the yr forward as towards the percentages and the wave of political turmoil within the area spurred on by the Arab Spring, the Assad authorities has achieved a powerful political victory. It’s not a matter of if however when the worldwide neighborhood re-engages with Syria, this features a reluctant Qatar. Earlier this month, it was reported that Syria will probably be chairing the Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting International locations (OAPEC) Ministerial Council subsequent yr and will probably be internet hosting the Arab Power Convention in 2024.
In some methods, Qatar’s internet hosting of the Arab Cup is a precursor to the extra prestigious and vital World Cup subsequent yr, which has already been tainted over the Gulf State’s personal human rights report and allegations of bribery. By internet hosting “the best present on earth”, Doha hopes to enhance its repute, simply as Russia sought to do the identical in 2018.
Soccer within the fashionable age is definitely political, and Qatar’s unofficial recognition of the Syrian Arab Republic was grossly neglected within the press, representing an personal aim for Doha. On this sense, no matter who wins the Arab Cup, for these paying consideration, the actual winner was Syria.
The views expressed on this article belong to the writer and don’t essentially mirror the editorial coverage of Center East Monitor.
