Qatar forward Almoez Ali, top scorer in last year’s Asian Cup with a record nine goals, is eligible to play for them, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Monday as it dismissed an appeal by the United Arab Emirates.
After a 4-0 semi-final defeat to Qatar at the tournament, the UAE football federation protested that Sudan-born Ali was ineligible and that the match should be awarded to them.
However, CAS said in a statement that it was satisfied that Ali’s mother was born in Qatar, making him eligible to play for them under FIFA rules. (Aljazeera)