By Reuters and published by CNA
THE ‘Finalissima’ football match between Spain and Argentina that was scheduled to be held in Qatar later this month has been cancelled due to the conflict in the Middle East, UEFA said in a statement on Sunday (Mar. 15).
The US-Israeli strikes on Iran have affected countries throughout the Gulf, disrupting travel in some of the world’s busiest transit hubs and forcing several sporting events to be cancelled due to safety concerns.
The contest between European champions Spain and Copa America winners Argentina was scheduled for March 27 at Doha’s Lusail Stadium, where fans would have had the opportunity to watch Lionel Messi go head-to-head with Lamine Yamal.
UEFA said they held discussions with the organising authorities in Qatar and concluded that the match could not take place due to the “current political situation” in the region.
“It is a source of great disappointment to UEFA and the organisers that circumstances and timing have denied the teams of the chance to compete for this prestigious prize in Qatar,” UEFA said in a statement.
Serbia were also set to travel to Doha during the international window to play Qatar and Saudi Arabia, but they will now play Spain instead.
“Serbia will face the current European champions, Spain, on away turf on March 27, and four days later they will host the Saudi Arabian national team,” the Football Association of Serbia said in a statement.
UEFA said they explored other feasible alternatives to play the Finalissima but they proved to be ‘unacceptable’ to the Argentinian Football Association (AFA).
UEFA first offered to stage the match at the Santiago Bernabeu with a 50:50 split of supporters in the stadium.
A second option was to stage the Finalissima over two legs – at the Bernabeu on March 27 and the second leg in Buenos Aires during an international window before the next Euros and Copa America.
However, the AFA rejected both options. UEFA said Argentina made a counter offer to play the game after the World Cup but Spain had no available dates.
“Ultimately, UEFA sought a commitment from Argentina that, if a neutral venue in Europe could be found, the game could go ahead on 27 March… or on the alternative date of 30 March. This proposal was also rejected,” UEFA added.
The 2022 edition of the Finalissima was held at Wembley Stadium in London where Argentina beat Italy 3-0.
Other sporting events and athletes affected
The US and Israel’s conflict with Iran has also led to other sporting events being postponed in the region, while competitions elsewhere have been hit by travel disruption, with thousands of flights cancelled in some of the world’s busiest transit hubs.
Bahrain and Saudi F1 races cancelled
Formula One’s Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April due to the conflict in the Middle East, the sport announced on Saturday.
Meanwhile, MotoGP’s Qatar Grand Prix scheduled for next month has been postponed to November, with the dates for the Portuguese Grand Prix and the season finale in Valencia also changed as a result.
Trump say inappropriate for Iran to be at World Cup
US President Donald Trump said on March 12 that Iran’s soccer team were welcome to take part in this year’s World Cup but that he believed it was not appropriate for them to be there “for their own life and safety”.
Iran have qualified for the 48-team tournament to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 and are scheduled to play two group matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
Athletes’ arrivals at paralympic games disrupted
Several athletes were unable to travel to the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympic Games due to travel disruption at several Middle Eastern airports.
Moreover, Iran are not competing at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, the International Paralympic Committee announced on March 6.
Tennis in UAE halted due to security alert
The ATP Challenger event in Fujairah was cancelled on March 3 due to safety concerns after a security alert halted play. The ATP Tour said a charter flight had been arranged “at no cost to players”.
Russians Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, who participated in the Dubai Tennis Championships, were among the players who faced difficulties before travelling to California for the Indian Wells Open.
Sindhu withdraws from badminton’s All England Open
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu withdrew from the All England Open after being stranded for days at the Dubai airport. She returned to India on March 3.
US withdraws from Hockey World Cup qualifier
The US men’s hockey team withdrew from a hockey World Cup 2026 qualifier in Ismailia, Egypt after an official advisory from the State Department urging all US citizens to leave nations within or close to conflict zones.
Asian Champions League matches postponed
Round of 16 clashes featuring Middle Eastern clubs in the Asian Champions League Elite in the first two weeks of March have been postponed.
Quarter-final clashes in the Asian Champions League Two and the Asian Challenge League featuring clubs from the region are also postponed, AFC, the continental soccer body, said on Wednesday.
Iranian female footballers given asylum
Australia granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women soccer players on March 10 after they sought asylum, fearing persecution on their return home for their refusal to sing the national anthem at an Asian Cup match.
Australian police helped two more members of the Iranian women’s soccer delegation claim asylum on March 11, but one changed her mind and decided to go back to Iran.
Concerns about the players’ safety upon their return home grew after Iranian state television labelled the team “wartime traitors”.
Iraq coach calls for World Cup playoff game to be postponed
Iraq soccer coach Graham Arnold called for the team’s inter-confederation World Cup playoff in Mexico in March to be postponed amidst the travel chaos triggered by the conflict in neighbouring Iran.
The Iraqis are concerned they might not be able to get their players and staff over to Mexico for their scheduled clash with either Bolivia or Suriname in Monterrey on March 31.
Afghanistan v Sri Lanka series postponed
The limited-overs series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka scheduled for March in the United Arab Emirates has been postponed due to the crisis in the Middle East, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced on March 11.
WEC postpones season opener in Qatar
The World Endurance Championship postponed its season-opening race, originally scheduled for March 28 at the Lusail circuit in Qatar.
Organisers announced new dates, with the race now set to take place between October 22 and 24.
Sports events cancelled in Iran, soccer resumes in Qatar
All sporting events in Iran have been cancelled until further notice, including the country’s top-flight Persian Gulf Pro League. The Bahraini FA has also halted all domestic competitions.
Qatar’s top-flight football league resumed on March 12 after a nationwide suspension of sporting activity imposed amid regional security concerns, the Qatar Stars League Foundation said.
Mancini unable to return to Qatar
Al Sadd coach Roberto Mancini was not present for Friday’s Qatar Stars League match against Umm Salal as he was unable to return to Doha.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page – Soccer Football – Intercontinental Cup – Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar – December 18, 2024 General view outside the Lusail Stadium. File photo – REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omar and published by CNA
First insert – Formula One F1 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix general view during qualifying at Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Photo – Reuters and published by CNA
Second insert – Formula Two, Formula Three and the all-female F1 Academy rounds scheduled for the Middle Eastern races will also not go ahead. Photo – Reuters and published by The Straits Times
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