Discipline Rejects Bahrain Protest

The Disciplinary Committee of the Gulf Cup of Nations Federation announced yesterday its rejection of a protest lodged by the Bahrain national team regarding the participation of Qatari player Assem Madibo in the opening match against Bahrain in the first round of Group 2 of the ongoing “Gulf Cup 27” tournament in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The Bahrain Football Association had filed an official protest following its senior team’s 2-0 defeat to Qatar on Thursday, at the outset of both teams’ participation in the Gulf Cup, citing Assem Madibo’s participation due to a disciplinary sanction imposed by FIFA. The sanction mandated a five-match international ban for Madibo following a heavy challenge on Canadian player Ismail Koné during their match at the recent World Cup.

In its protest memorandum, the Bahrain Football Association argued that Madibo had not yet served the full suspension, as he had played in only one match of the ban, which was against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the third and final group-stage match.