Asian Football Cup final Qatar riot police
thousands of Peaceful Spectators with tickets turned away by riot police with batons and dogs at Asian football cup final. No explanation was given why the fans, many families with children, with allocated seating, could not enter the stadium to watch the final. rumour was that the organisers had feared empty seats and had bused in workers from factories to watch the games and fill the stadium. consequently those with tickets could not then enter as the stadium was so full. No explanation or information was provided to the peaceful but now disgruntled crowd who had purchased tickets and the heavy handed presence of the riot police with batons and dogs was initimidating and unneseccary. One wonders if Qatar is capable of running the World Cup when it mismanages the final of the Asian Cup in such an aggressive manner.
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From recent news reports the official reason given for closing the gates was for security because of VVIPs having attended.
What I don't understand is - why weren't the organizers prepared for that circumstance?
Haven't similar situations arisen before in Qatar? How were they handled?
Good one trev. on yahoo the director Mr Jassim of the Qatar Local Organising committe for the games is 'happy' about what happened. No doubt he was perched up in the VIP seats with the Royal Family. He said only some of us in the crowd had tickets, and that we were told to arrive early. I would like to know how we were informed (in Arabic on Arabic TV?) I went to the ticket office for 2 days prior to the final and was never informed to arrive early, Thousands of us did arrive early via Villagio, but were forced to walk the perimeter of the stadium, which took about 25 minutes, to reach the gates, instead of walking directly to the stadium from villagio which should have taken 5 minuts. I am incensed that there is no apology and no responsiblity taken by the organisers. they obviously dont care and clearly demonstrates the calibre of the people of Qatar.
Here is a video I shot of the police being heavy handed, one of them tries to hit me with a stick for filming. Absolutely no explanation as to why we were allowed in; couldn't organise a pray-up in a mosque.
Expect Amazing Fooking Amazing.
Interesting bit of news.TFS.Although i watched the match at home.