The UAE Football Association has voiced strong dissatisfaction over critical refereeing mistakes during the Arabian Gulf Cup match against Kuwait. This game, held as part of Khaleeji Zain 26 (December 21–January 3), ended in a 2-1 loss for the UAE. The association claims these decisions significantly impacted the game’s outcome.
The Football Association highlighted several major issues, including the second yellow card issued to Kwame. According to the association, the card was unjustified, making his subsequent expulsion equally unfair. Furthermore, the association criticized “VAR interventions,” describing them as lacking fairness and transparency.
In addition, the association sent a formal letter to the Gulf Federation, urging swift action. It emphasized the need to protect the tournament’s integrity and participating teams’ interests. Moreover, it warned that repeated errors could damage the competition’s reputation.
Looking ahead, the UAE must now win their upcoming match against Oman on Friday to stay in contention. After the loss to Kuwait, UAE head coach Paulo Bento acknowledged the challenges but remained optimistic about their chances.
“The situation is difficult, but it’s not impossible. We must recover, analyze, and focus on preparation,” Bento said. “Training time is limited, with only 72 hours available. Therefore, we need to channel all our energy into the next game.”
He added, “Qualification is still possible, even though the opponent is strong. However, the group stage results will decide everything.”
At present, the UAE has just one point after two matches, following a 1-1 draw against Qatar in their opener.
The 26th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup includes eight teams, divided into two groups of four. In Group A, the UAE competes alongside Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait. Meanwhile, Group B features Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Yemen.
With everything on the line, the UAE needs a strong performance to keep their knockout stage hopes alive.
