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Jonathan White

British football fan Ali Issa Ahmad has filed a complaint with Fifa through his lawyers regarding his alleged treatment at the AFC Asian Cup in the UAE in January.
The 26-year-old Sudanese-British dual national from Wolverhampton was wearing a T-shirt with the Qatar flag on it at the Qatar vs Iraq Asian Cup game on January 22.
Following the game, he claims, he was accosted by a group of men claiming to be police officers and the T-shirt was ripped off him. He said he was also racially abused.
He claims he was then followed before being tortured in his rental car by two men the next day. He reported the attack to police but alleges further mistreatment at their hands.

Ali Issa Ahmad was held after wearing a Qatar shirt in the UAE, where showing support for Qatar is considered an offence.
Watch videos from the UK and around the world here: https://t.co/hhDQuQ1top pic.twitter.com/PmdqUyNMBp
— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 19, 2019

“Ali was tortured and interrogated for several days. He was electrocuted and beaten up. He was deprived of food, water and sleep,” reads a statement from his lawyers.
The UAE authorities denied Ahmad’s claims that he was beaten, electrocuted and cut with a knife.

Strange story. Wondering why this poor guy went to the UAE with 2 Qatar shirts when he wasn’t planning to watch any games. Qatar shirts not widely sold in the UK. Curious times. https://t.co/66Hc8Eir5Y
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) February 15, 2019

Ahmad also alleges he was later stabbed while in a UAE prison. He also claims he lost a tooth during the ordeal.
According to the statement from Ahmad’s lawyers, the UAE authorities said his injuries were self-inflicted.
It is claimed that only after signing a statement admitting to inflicting the injuries on himself was he allowed a phone call to a friend, who informed the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office of his plight. They were unable to visit him until February 3.

Doha shops selling out of #Qatar national team shirts, ahead of #AsianCup2019 grudge semi-final against UAE. "Everybody wants one now," assistant tells me.#GulfCrisis #BlockadeDerby pic.twitter.com/Q9ksNuLWZV
— David Harding (@DM_Harding) January 29, 2019

His story went public on February 5, but it was not until February 12 that he was released. In the meantime, on the night of February 9 it is claimed he was stabbed in the abdomen while in prison.
Ahmad was charged with making a false claim and fined 1,500 UAE dirhams (US$376) before his release. He arrived back in the UK on February 14.
“Nobody should ever have to suffer what I did simply for wearing a T-shirt with a flag of a country on it,” Ahmad said.

Paris Saint Germain is about to become a walking (or, in Neymar's case, falling) Qatar billboard. New shirt sponsor Accor is 10% Qatari owned (via QIA) https://t.co/7oAAz4wvQP Sleeve sponsor QNB=Qatar National Bank. Tail sponsor Ooredoo=Qatari telecoms. All state owned entities pic.twitter.com/oQUwF3j6cC
— Prof Simon Chadwick (@Prof_Chadwick) May 13, 2019

“I never wanted to go public with what happened to me because it is so difficult to keep reliving it, but the UAE keep denying that they did anything to me.
“I hope that Fifa will take our complaint seriously, as they should not be allowing football tournaments to take place if fans are in danger for simply supporting a team that is taking part in the tournament. Not only did they physically torture me but they also called me terrible things, especially because I am black.”
The lawyers’ statement catalogues the alleged mistreatment in great detail.

A statement by UAE Embassy on Ahmed Ali Issa case pic.twitter.com/BUTzUjBEJx
— UAE Embassy UK (@UAEEmbassyUK) February 5, 2019

“He was denied medical assistance and instead arrested and accused of wasting police time,” the statement said. “During his time in detention he was starved and deprived of sleep as well as being electrocuted whilst being interrogated about why he was supporting Qatar during the tournament.”
The British lawyers have now submitted a complaint to Fifa for not ensuring the safety of supporters during the tournament.
“The complaint that has been filed with Fifa is against Fifa’s own failings in regard to their Human Rights Policy and safety against racial discrimination.”
Britain’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office has also received an official complaint from lawyers acting on Ahmad’s behalf.
Another will soon be filed with the United Nations Human Rights Council, of which the UAE is a member.
Rodney Dixon QC, the head of Ahmad’s legal team, said: “It is a disgrace that Ali was tortured so cruelly and gratuitously while attending an international football tournament in the UAE.
“Fifa has certain policies in place supposedly to ensure this never happens, however those policies are clearly failing. We have thus filed a complaint on behalf of Ali and we are asking Fifa to address and remedy the violations committed against Ali.
Fifa ditches plan to expand Qatar World Cup to 48 teams
“No football fan should have to endure this kind of inhuman and racist treatment merely for supporting a team, irrespective of where the tournament is held. Fifa must take action to hold those responsible to account.”
In a statement from the British embassy in the UAE dated February 5, UAE officials were quoted denying Ahmad’s claims he was arrested because of the Qatar shirt.
“He was categorically not arrested for wearing a Qatar football shirt. This is instead an instance of a person seeking media attention and wasting police time.”


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Sport

Football

Ali Issa Ahmad claims he was tortured, stabbed and racially abused by hosts in January tournament
Host country denies claims and accuses Briton of making a false complaint before allowing him to return to UK


Ali Issa Ahmad claims he was tortured, stabbed and racially abused by hosts in January tournament.


Fifa

Qatar diplomatic crisis

Asian Cup 2019: British fan appeals to Fifa, claiming torture by UAE police for wearing a Qatar shirt

Ali Issa Ahmad claims he was tortured, stabbed and racially abused by hosts in January tournament Host country denies claims and accuses Briton of making a false complaint before allowing him to return to UK

Ali Issa Ahmad claims he was tortured, stabbed and racially abused by hosts in January tournament

Host country denies claims and accuses Briton of making a false complaint before allowing him to return to UK