Bahrain Football Association protests Qatari player eligibility

The Bahrain Football Association has filed an official protest with the Gulf Football Federation regarding the eligibility of Qatari player Asim Omar Al-Haj Madbo. The protest concerns Madbo’s participation in the match between Bahrain and Qatar during the first round of the ‘Gulf Cup 27’ held in Jeddah.

According to Bahraini Football Association General Secretary Rashid Al-Zoubi, the protest is based on a prior disciplinary sanction issued by FIFA. The international governing body had suspended Madbo for five official matches following a red card received during a 2026 World Cup match between Qatar and Canada.

Bahrain is requesting that tournament organizers and technical committees verify whether the player has completed the full duration of his suspension before participating in matches. The association emphasized the need to apply international regulations to ensure fair competition and equal opportunity for all participating teams.