File photo from Al Sadd SC twitter
Doha: Qatar's Football Association fined former Barcelona star Xavi Hernandez and several other top-flight players and staff $2,700 each for breaching coronavirus rules, it said in a statement on Thursday.
The Disciplinary Committee of the Qatar Football Association (QFA) held a video conference meeting on Tuesday headed by Chairman Hassan Al Hammadi in the presence of all members of the committee.
During the meeting, reports from the Qatar Stars League matches were discussed as the Disciplinary Committee announced a series of important decisions, both regarding non-compliance of MOPH’s safety protocols and fines imposed on players and officials.
Xavi, head coach of Qatari side Al-Sadd, revealed at the end of July that he had contracted the virus.
The penalty, which included an official warning from the league, was because of "non-compliance with the Ministry of Public Health's safety protocols including breaching a home quarantine pledge signed by him", the statement said.
Al-Sadd players Hammam al-Amin and Abdul Karim Hassan also faced fines of 10,000 riyals ($2,700) and warnings from the QFA's disciplinary committee, as did players and staff from several other teams.
The Qatar Stars League resumed competition on July 24 with strict social distancing rules, routine testing of players and staff and a blanket ban on media attendance.
The full list of fines and penalties
First: Al Arabi SC
Warning + fine
1- Al Arabi player Muhammad Issa Al-Muhammadi warned and fined QR 10,000 due to non-compliance with the MOPH’s safety protocols.
2- Al Arabi player Mohamed Essam El Din warned and fined QR 10,000 due to non-compliance with the MOPH’s safety protocols including breaching home quarantine pledge signed by him.
3 – Al Arabi player Marc Muniesa warned and fined QR 10,000 due to non-compliance with the MOPH’s safety protocols including breaching home quarantine pledge signed by him.
** Al Rayyan vs Al Arabi match
1- Suspending Al Arabi player Fahd Shanin for three matches (on disciplinary grounds) and imposing a fine of QR 20,000. The decision was announced for showing lack of sportsman spirit during the Al Arabi vs Al Rayyan match in the QNB Stars League match.
2- Al Arabi player Musab Khadr fined QR 5,000. The decision was announced for showing lack of sportsman spirit during the Al Arabi vs Al Rayyan match in the QNB Stars League match.
Second: Al Sadd SC
1 – A warning to Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez and a fine of QR 10,000 due to non-compliance with the MOPH’s safety protocols including breaching home quarantine pledge signed by him.
2- A warning to Al Sadd player Hammam Al Amin and a fine of QR 10,000 due to non-compliance with the MOPH’s safety protocols including breaching home quarantine pledge signed by him.
3- A warning to Al Sadd player Abdul Karim Hassan and a fine of QR 10,000 due to non-compliance with the MOPH’s safety protocols including breaching home quarantine pledge signed by him.
Third: Qatar SC
1 – A warning to Diego Pereira – a member of the Qatar SC technical staff – and a fine of QR 10,000 due to non-compliance with the MOPH’s safety protocols including breaching home quarantine pledge signed by him.
2- A warning to player Ahmed Moeen and a fine of QR 10,000 due to non-compliance with the MOPH’s safety protocols including breaching home quarantine pledge signed by him.
Fourth: Umm Salal SC
1- A warning to Umm Salal player Mahmoud Al-Mawas and a fine of QR 10,000 due to non-compliance with the MOPH’s safety protocols including breaching home quarantine pledge signed by him.
2 – A warning of player Ismail Mahmoud Mardanli and a fine of QR 10,000 due to non-compliance with the MOPH’s safety protocols including breaching home quarantine pledge signed by him.
Fifth: Al Wakrah SC
A warning to Al Wakrah player Omar Afifi Abdul Majeed and a fine of QR 5,000 due to non-compliance with the MOPH’s safety protocols including breaching home quarantine pledge signed by him.
Sixth: Al Rayyan SC
A warning to Al Rayyan player Mohamed Alaa and a fine of QR 10,000 due to non-compliance with the MOPH’s safety protocols including breaching home quarantine pledge signed by him.
Seventh: Al Khor SC
A warning to Al Khor player Ahmed Salem Al Askar and a fine of QR 10,000 due to non-compliance with the MOPH’s safety protocols including breaching home quarantine pledge signed by him.
Eighth: Al Gharafa SC
A warning to Al Gharafa player Koo Ja-cheol and a fine of QR 10,000 due to non-compliance with the MOPH’s safety protocols including breaching home quarantine pledge signed by him.
Ninth: Al Duhail SC
A warning to Al Duhail player Ahmed Sufyan and a fine of QR 10,000 due to non-compliance with the MOPH’s safety protocols including breaching home quarantine pledge signed by him.
