Here’s what’s happened since last week’s updates: UAE hired US hackers to spy on Al Jazeera chief -- GCC Crisis Updates Week 96
The chances of FIFA increasing the number of teams at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar from 32 to 48 is 50/50, the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday in Brazil. During a meeting of the South American Football Confederation in Brazil, Infantinotold delegates that he was working to ensure the increase for the Qatar tournament, which would mean a guaranteed two extra places, reported Reuters.
“We are working to see if we can get 48 teams in the 2022 World Cup because more participation means more development and more passion for everyone,” he said.
“We’ll see by June whether it is possible or not. (It’s) 50/50. What is 100 percent is that the 2022 World Cup is going to be spectacular and a total success.”
FIFA chose to host the 2022 World Cup for 32 teams in Qatar, although Infantino is still pushing for it to be expanded to 48 teams over the demand from some GCC countries to host some matches in an expanded tournament.
A final decision on the number of teams for the next finals has been pushed back to June, which will be announced at the FIFA Congress in Paris on June 5, 2019.
Qatar today announced that it has filed legal proceedings in New York and London taking actions against financial institutions that engaged in manipulation of the Qatari Riyal, bonds issued by the State of Qatar, and related financial instruments, the Government Communications Office said in a statement, reported Qatar News Agency (QNA).
The cases named the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Saudi Arabia's Samba Bank and Luxembourg-based Banque Havilland, a statement from Qatar's government communications office said on Monday.
In June 2017, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt imposed an illegal blockade on the State of Qatar and took a number of actions designed to damage Qatar, its economy, and its residents. As a result, Qatar initiated a number of legal proceedings before the International Court of Justice, International Civil Aviation Organisation and World Trade Organisation, the statement said.
The statement said that the actions undertaken by the entities that Qatar has now sued were illegal and were designed to destabilise Qatar's currency and financial markets in order to undermine confidence in Qatar's economy and, by doing so, to cause damage not just to Qatar but also to domestic and international investors.
What are your thoughts on these latest developments in the ongoing GCC Crisis? Drop us a line and tell us your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to like and share this article.
Follow us on our social media channels:
@ILQlive
@ILQlive
@ILoveQtr
ILoveQatar
You have successfully registered your account!
Please confirm your e-mail address by clicking on the URL sent to you.The e-mail usually arrives in 5-10 minutes.
How ajeeb was that!? Thanks for contributing to our community! Your post will appear after we take a quick look!
