UAE footballer given three month prison sentence for criticising national coach
A footballer in the UAE has been sent to prison for three months after criticising his national team’s coach, local media reported on Monday.
Abdullah Qassem, 29, made “indecent gestures” and criticised his manager Mahdi Ali in a video, The National reported.
Qassem plays for al-Dhafra in the UAE Arabian Gulf League.
He was given a three month prison sentence by the Abu Dhabi Court of Misdemeanours. A second unnamed player who filmed his video criticism was also sent to prison for three months.
The two players were found guilty of “using telecommunications services to offend and hurt the feelings of others” as well as posting a video that “breached public ethics”.
Qassem’s lawyer claimed in court that the video had been published without the player’s consent and argued that he was a victim of a crime himself.
The lawyer also said that UAE coach Ali did not want to press charges.
Qasssem and the other unnamed player had already been banned by their club.
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