UAE denies detaining Briton for wearing Qatar football shirt

Dubai - The police took him to hospital, where a doctor who examined him concluded that his injuries were inconsistent with his account of events.

The UAE has dismissed reports it had detained a British citizen for supporting Qatar during a football tournament. According to a statement issued by the UAE Embassy in the UK, the country said the dual Sudanese-British citizen was charged with "wasting police time and making false statements". The embassy stressed he was not arrested for wearing a Qatar football shirt.
"We understand from the authorities in Sharjah that Ali Essa Ahmed presented himself to the police station there in January, claiming he had been harassed and beaten up by UAE national football fans for cheering the Qatar team at the AFC Club tournament. The police took him to hospital, where a doctor who examined him concluded that his injuries were inconsistent with his account of events and appeared to be self-inflicted."
The statement added that Ahmed has "admitted" to the offences and that he will now stand trial.
"We are in touch with the UK embassy and due process has been followed. Mr Ahmad speaks Arabic and fully understands the situation he has put himself in. This is an instance of a person seeking media attention and wasting police time," said a UAE official.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai