|
|
UAE Football Association clarifies Ahmed Ali age after Iraqi protest
The Iraqi Football Association has lodged an official objection after Sunday's 2012 London Olympics qualifier with UAE, claiming the game's only goalscorer was ineligible
Feb 8, 2012 5:20:00 AM
By Ben Somerford
Getty
The UAE Football Association (UAEFA) has moved to clarify complaints from the Iraqi national team who claimed their opponents fielded an ineligible player in the 1-0 Emirati win in 2012 London Olympics qualifying in Doha on Sunday.
The Iraqi Football Association (IFA) claimed the game's only goalscorer Ahmed Ali was a player who was beyond the legal under-23 age for Olympic qualifiers.
It's understood the IFA put forward an official objection to the Asian Football Confederation on Ali's age. An IFA source said they believed Ali was born in 1984.
However, UAE FA moved quickly to clarify the situation citing that Ali's player profile on his club Bani Yas' website was incorrectly filled out.
Ali was actually born on January 28 1990, meaning he is eligible at just 22-years-old. The striker has missed most of the 2011-12 season due to a tibia injury, which meant he missed much of UAE's Olympic qualifying campaign already.
The Iraqi Football Association (IFA) claimed the game's only goalscorer Ahmed Ali was a player who was beyond the legal under-23 age for Olympic qualifiers.
|
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
It's understood the IFA put forward an official objection to the Asian Football Confederation on Ali's age. An IFA source said they believed Ali was born in 1984.
However, UAE FA moved quickly to clarify the situation citing that Ali's player profile on his club Bani Yas' website was incorrectly filled out.
Ali was actually born on January 28 1990, meaning he is eligible at just 22-years-old. The striker has missed most of the 2011-12 season due to a tibia injury, which meant he missed much of UAE's Olympic qualifying campaign already.
Follow Goal.com Asia on 
and 
for the latest in Asian footballing news, features, and analysis
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
Inside Goal.Com
-
Discover football's best & worst pledges
Goal.com takes a look back at some of the best and worst promises made by members of the football fraternity over the years
-
Spain's Euro 2012 hopes hit hard by Villa blow
The Barcelona striker will be out of the continental competition after failing to fully recover from a broken tibia sustained in December's Club World Cup. He will be sorely missed
-
Cartoon: Drogba waves goodbye to Chelsea
The Ivorian confirmed his intention to leave Stamford Bridge on Tuesday after eight years at the club, meaning his final kick for the Blues sealed Champions League glory
-
Conte claims Serie A Coach of the Season award
The Italian led Juventus to the Scudetto with an unbeaten record and is deemed the best trainer on the peninsula by the readers in our end-of-term vote
-
All the players available for free in England
A host of big-name Premier League stars are out of contract at the end of the season and Goal.com gives you the top five bargains who will be snapped up for absolutely nothing
