Time for Fifa to recognise Gulf Cup

Among the Asians, the Gulf countries may not be as big in size as China, Koreas or Japan (even Australia, who are part of Asian Football Confederation) but when it comes to footballing strength they are bridging the gap much faster.

The Socceroos may have started their Asian Cup campaign with a bang against a GCC nation but undoubtedly the Gulf countries are out to leave their own mark on the quadrennial tournament and thus make their case stronger for official recognition from Fifa for the Arabian Gulf Cup.

Two years ago Fifa chief Sepp Blatter, while attending the 21^st Arabian Gulf Cup opening ceremony in Bahrain, had hinted that it was possible to grant official status to the tournament that is very prestigious for the contesting countries.

There cannot be comparisons when it comes to talent in football as Europe and the Americans are miles ahead of the Asians, who form sixty per cent of the World‘s population. At the same time, Fifa is aware that the Asian continent is the biggest market for promotion of the game and may be the football’s future is here.

Among the Asians, the Gulf countries may not be as big in size as China, Koreas or Japan (even Australia, who are part of Asian Football Confederation) but when it comes to footballing strength they are bridging the gap much faster.

Take the Asian Cup now underway Down Under. Almost fifty per cent (seven off the 16) of the nations at the Asian Cup were part of the bi-annual Gulf Cup Tournament. In the last 16 editions of the tournament Saudi Arabia have won it three times and only Japan have won more titles than the Saudis. Kuwait and Iraq have won the Asian Cup once each.

The Saudis also have a rare distinction of playing in four successive World Cup Finals since 1994, the year when they made a great impact for the Gulf (even Arab) nations by beating Belgium with a goal that propelled Saeed Al Owairan’s strike among one of the greatest World Cup goals of all time.

With a national coach at the helm, the UAE are considered dark horses of the Asian Cup in Australia and even they have had their own glory under the Italian sun in 1990 when Khalid Ismail scored the first goal for the UAE in the World Cup against mighty Germans. Then, Ali Thani also scored against the then Yugoslavia.

So, the GCC countries have made impact on a bigger stage but their plea for recognition for the tournament (Gulf Cup) that started in 1968 has fallen on deaf ears. The Fifa bosses have reportedly asked GCC nation to include Iran in the competition for official recognition, a condition that has its own complications in a tournament that is contested by the Gulf Arab nations. Fifa must understand that the Gulf Cup is a championship for the Arab nations, like Africa Cup is for the African nations.

Even at the individual level, players like Omani goalkeeper Ali Habsi have made good advertisement for the Gulf football by successfully playing in Europe, including English Premier League.

Now, there’s another opportunity for the Gulf nations. One of the seven must go on to win in Australia and prove a point that the most popular game in the region deserves much better recognition from Fifa.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and of course the UAE have the potential to win the Asian Cup and with the Cup bring a much bigger glory to the region — recognition for the Gulf football.

sunilvaidya@khaleejtimes.com