The United Arab Emirates Football Association has drawn up strict new regulations to avoid their clubs from withdrawing in future international competitions.
The proposed rules come after Sharjah pulled out of the Asian Champions League earlier this year with two games remaining to concentrate on their ailing domestic campaign. It proved an embarrassing move for the UAE who had been looking to increase their reputation within Asia.
Should the new laws come to pass, teams that withdraw from official international competitions could be hit with a hefty fine, banned from participating in any international tournament for three years and may also be relegated from the top flight.
"We need to close the door on such moves by clubs in the future," UAE FA General Secretary Abdullah Yousuf said in The National.
"Sharjah had put us in a very difficult position and we had to really fight hard to keep our seats in the Asian Champions League.
"I don't think the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) will be so lenient if any of our clubs do this a second time. We cannot allow it. We are in a professional era now and we need to behave accordingly."
Should the new laws come to pass, teams that withdraw from official international competitions could be hit with a hefty fine, banned from participating in any international tournament for three years and may also be relegated from the top flight.
"We need to close the door on such moves by clubs in the future," UAE FA General Secretary Abdullah Yousuf said in The National.
"Sharjah had put us in a very difficult position and we had to really fight hard to keep our seats in the Asian Champions League.
"I don't think the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) will be so lenient if any of our clubs do this a second time. We cannot allow it. We are in a professional era now and we need to behave accordingly."
Copyright (c) Press Association
Related Articles
Caitlin Foord: 'I prefer NRL, football's a little boring'
Revealed! ANZ Stadium's $810m revamp
