Qatar using money to buy loyalties of outstanding sportsmen

Ahmed Adel

Qatar uses sports as a means for enhancing its ties with other countries. It also uses it in making history by naturalizing outstanding foreign players who win important championships for Doha. Money is an important factor in this regard.

Qatari authorities give naturalized players special passports. Called the “Missions Passport”, the travel document is temporary. It is invalid once sports championships where these players participate are over.

Qatar especially does this for players participating in individual sports where players are allowed to change their citizenships for the sake of the championships.

Qatar succeeded in naturalizing a large number of Sudanese players. The following are the most outstanding players in this regard:

Suleiman Hamed

He is one of the most distinguished athletics. He accepted a naturalization offer from Qatar and raised the Qatari flag in a number of international contests.

However, Qatar pulled back the Qatari citizenship from the player once he retired. This caused huge suffering to the player and his family.

Qatar naturalized Hamed in 1999. He especially participated in the running ranges 100 and 200 meters.

Qatari authorities fabricated documents to prove that Hamed was born in Doha, even as he was born in Sudan in 2009. He won a large number of titles, including the golden medal at the Arab Games Championship in 2007.

Al-Muezz Ali Zineddine

He was the top scorer in the Gulf Cup Championship which was played in Qatar in 2019.

Zineddine was born in Sudan, even as Qatar claims that he was born in Doha. This caused the national UAE football team to appeal against the presence of the player within the Qatari team.

Hemdan Hamad

He is an outstanding expert in the field of soccer. He was born in Sudan. Nonetheless, he benefited his home country nothing because he was busy working for Qatar.

Hamad lives in Qatar since the 1970s. He is married and has six daughters.

He refused to be naturalized in Qatar, despite repeated proposals from Doha. As a player, he wanted to play for the Sudanese national team. This caused Qatari sports authorities to object. This was why he decided to retire. He returned to Sudan later.