Qatar World Cup doubt

THE controversial 2022 soccer World Cup in Qatar appeared to be unravelling yesterday as other Gulf states claimed the country had “embraced” terror organisations.

The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Yemen joined Saudi Arabia in breaking off ties over a simmering row centred on Qatar’s alleged support for groups such as Islamic State and al-Qaeda.

Critics have suggested the soccer tournament may have to be moved to another country if neither side backs down.

As part of the spat, airlines from the countries involved are to cancel flights to and from the Qatari capital Doha, including EgyptAir, Etihad Airways and Emirates.

Qatar Airways last night said passengers booked on flights to the countries that have banned its planes would be offered refunds.

Organisers of the World Cup had expected the majority of the 1.3 million anticipated fans to travel from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.

Experts warned the row would also have a knock-on effect across its lucrative routes to Europe and Australia.

Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani yesterday called for dialogue and insisted ties to the US would remain strong.

In a speech broadcast on the Doha-based satellite channel Al-Jazeera, he also called for “a dialogue of openness and honesty” to resolve the crisis.

Qatar has denied the allegations that it supports extremists, in the biggest diplomatic crisis to have hit the region in years.

Mr Abdulrahman insisted there would be “no escalation” on the part of Doha, a longtime ally of the US, which has been viewed with lingering suspicion by Washington over its leniency with groups such as Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.

He said that Qatar’s ties to the US were complicated but they would remain unharmed.

Qatar hosts the largest US air base in the region.

Announcing the decision to cut diplomatic ties, Saudi Arabia accused Qatar of an “embrace of various terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at destabilising the region” including the Muslim Brotherhood, al-Qaeda and Islamic State.

But Qatar said the claims had “no basis in fact”.