DOHA: The 23rd edition of the Gulf Cup – the region’s top football
event – will be held in Kuwait later this year if FIFA sanctions are
lifted on the Arab state next month, it was announced after a key
meeting on Wednesday.

The region’s football chiefs agreed to name Kuwait as the host of the
Gulf Cup which will only be held once the world governing body lifts
sanction in May.

This was decided at a meeting headed by Qatar Football Association
(QFA) President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani.

Besides football chiefs of the GCC countries, representatives from
Iraq and Yemen also attended the meeting.

Sheikh Talal Al-Fahad Al-Sabah (Kuwait), Yousef Al Serkal (the UAE), Sheikh
Ahmed Saleh Al Eisa (Yemen), Khalid Al Busaidi (Oman), Sheikh Ali bin
Khalifa Al Khalifa (Bahrain), Ahmed Bin Eid Al-Harbi (Saudi Arabia)
and Abdul Khaliq Massoud (Iraq) were also present at the meeting.

QFA Vice President Saud Al Mohannadi and Secretary General Mansoor Al
Ansari were also present.

According to details, if Kuwait is not in a position to stage the 2016
Gulf Cup, then Doha will host the event in December 2017.

It was also decided that the following year, the Gulf Cup will move to the UAE.

Either way, a final decision will be made on Kuwait in June after
reviewing the existing football venues in Kuwait.

It was also announced that on May 21, a general meeting of the Gulf
Football Federation (GFF) will be held in Doha.

Key decisions including making Doha the headquarters of GFF is
expected to ratified during the May 21 gathering.

The President of GFF will also be elected during the meeting next month.

Later, QFA President hosted a banquet in honour of the visiting
football delegations.

Ali Al-Naimi, Hassan Al Hammadi, and Ibrahim Al Nasafalso attended

the luncheon.

Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for
Delivery and Legacy (SC), and Nasser Al Khater, Assistant Secretary
General (SC), also attended the luncheon.