Asian Cup: Qatar pelted with shoes by hostile UAE fans as they thrash hosts 4-0 to reach final
- Regional tensions boil over as Abu Dhabi crowd throws flip-flops and plastic bottles at Qatar players
- Qatar national anthem drowned out by boos in politically charged semi-final
Qatar punished unwelcoming hosts United Arab Emirates 4-0 in a politically charged clash marred by disgraceful behaviour from shoe-throwing fans on Tuesday to reach their first Asian Cup final.
The Qataris, whose national anthem was drowned out by boos before the game, face Japan in Friday’s final after goals from Boualem Khoukhi, Almoez Ali, Hasan Al-Haydos and Hamid Ismaeil sealed victory for the 2022 World Cup hosts in Abu Dhabi.
As they celebrated a famous win and a record sixth clean sheet at a single Asian Cup, plastic bottles rained down from angry local fans – as they had for each Qatari goal, with midfielder Salem Al-Hajri even hit on the head after their third.
“It wasn’t an easy situation,” Qatar coach Felix Sanchez said. “The players were aware there was going to be a lot of pressure but they managed their emotions quite well – I’m very proud of them.”
A match bristling with regional tension over the long-standing Gulf blockade of Qatar quickly burst into life as a meaty tackle from Bandar Al-Ahbabi on Akram Afif put the Qatari midfielder up in the air.
