UAE, Palestine added to Asian Games’ soccer tournament after mix-up

The United Arab Emirates and Palestine were on Wednesday officially added to the soccer tournament at the Asian Games after they were accidentally omitted from the original draw. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) conducted a limited redraw at their headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to include the two sides alongside 24 others taking part in soccer at the Games.

AFC Secretary-General Windsor John said Games organizers failed to pass the names of UAE and Palestine to his body for the initial draw, even though both teams had attempted to register.

John said he was not sure what caused the problem, adding “it could be some computer glitch, it could be some communication breakdown.”

He stressed the AFC was not running the competition, and was conducting the draw on behalf of the Olympic Council of Asia and the Indonesian organizing committee.

Eris Herryanto, secretary-general of the Indonesian committee, told AFP the two sides had not properly followed the registration procedures.

“They did something wrong. For example, if they registered one person more than they should have had, that won’t go into the system,” he said.

Palestine were placed in Group A with Indonesia, Hong Kong, Laos and Chinese Taipei. The UAE were placed in Group E with South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia and Bahrain.

It was the latest problem to hit the run-up to the Games, which is held from August 18 to September 2.

At the weekend irate Indonesian soccer fans ripped plastic seats from the stands and hurled them onto a pitch at a stadium in Palembang scheduled to host matches at the Games.

Indonesia has been scrambling to prepare venues, finish building work, widen roads and ease traffic congestion.

About 11,000 athletes from 45 Asian countries and regions will take part in the world’s biggest multisport event after the Olympics.