Arabian Gulf League reduced to 12 teams
dubai — The Arabian Gulf League, the UAE top flight, will be contested by 12 clubs next season, down from 14, the UAE Football Association (UAE FA) confirmed on Wednesday.
The UAE FA held an emergency board meeting in Abu Dhabi, on the sidelines of the preparations for the President’s Cup, and decided to revert to 12 teams, which was in existence until the 2011-12 season.
Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman welcomed the UAE FA’s decision to play with 12 teams.
The League, which turned professional in 2008, had became a 14-team affair from 2012-13 until the just concluded season.
But with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issuing a decree to merge three Dubai-based clubs — Al Ahli, Al Shabab and Dubai FC, into one entity called ‘Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club, and later His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, ordering the merger of Al Sharjah and First Division side Al Shaab, the UAE FA had to convene an emergency board meeting on Wednesday.
“The Board of Directors of the UAE Football Association held a meeting on Wednesday and decided that the number of teams participating in the Arabian Gulf League will be 12,” the UAE FA said on their official twitter handle @uaefa_ae.
“The format of the competition and the number of participating teams will be evaluated at the end of next season,” the UAE FA added in another tweet.
The League will now consist of freshly-minted champions Al Jazira, Al Wasl, Al Ain, Al Wahda, Al Nasr, Al Dhafra, Hatta, Emirates, Dibba, Ajman as well as the newlyformed Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club and Al Sharjah.
There were speculation that the UAE FA might opt for a playoff tournament, like the one held in 2012 but FA spokesman Hassan Al Jasmi had poured water over that suggestion.
The Arabian Gulf League and Arabian Gulf Cup fixtures will now have to be reworked by the Pro League Committee (PLC), which ensures the conduct of these domestic competitions.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, who was named as the chairman of Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club, met the Higher Committee, led by Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Director General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality in Dubai, tasked with overseeing the merger, on Wednesday.
Sheikh Mohammed called on fans of the three merged clubs to rally around Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club, the Dubai Media Office said on its official twitter handle @DXBMediaOffice.
james@khaleejtimes.com