22nd Gulf Cup moved to Jeddah

The presidents of the six Gulf football associations, as well as Iraq and Yemen , today, unanimously decided to move the 22nd Gulf Cup Football Tournament from the Iraqi city of Basra to the Saudi city of Jeddah. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the president of the Bahrain Football Association, in Manama. Shaikh Ali welcomed the conferees and praised the meticulous efforts that have contribute to ensuring the continuity of the historical success of the Arabian Gulf Cup football tournament. The unanimous decision came following extensive discussions, during which technical reports of the Gulf inspection Committee were reviewed, in respect to the visits made to Basra to determine the readiness of the Iraqi dossier. The decision to switch the venue to the Red Sea city of Jeddah was based on the conviction of the unsuitability of the Iraqi infrastructures and the ban imposed by FIFA on Iraq hosting international official and friendly competitions. The official date for the 22nd Gulf Cup will be set at a meeting to be held next month, in coordination with the Saudis. Source: BNA