Sheikh Hamad named Gulf Cup Federation's new president

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  • Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Thani.

    The Qatar Football Election chief was selected on Saturday as leader of the newly-inaugurated body, which aims to revolutionise the administration of the sport in the Middle East. A final name was also chosen for it in Doha, changing from Arabian Gulf Football Federation to reflect the importance of the Middle East’s premier international tournament.

    He will be supported by UAE Football Association supremo Marwan bin Ghalita, who was voted in unopposed as vice-president by the eight member nations. Al Thani chose to thank both his new No2 and the man he beat last month in the UAE FA elections, Yousuf Al Serkal, during his victory address.

    He said: “I know the GCF has shown great confidence in me and I assure I will do my best to take the game forward in this region.

    “Everyone knows the importance of the Gulf Cup, which has been continuing for more than 40 years. We must now push it forward.

    “I also want to thank Yousuf Al Serkal for his stint as president of the UAE Football Association and offer my congratulations to the new president, Marwan bin Ghalita. I wish him success in his work.”

    The organisation will streamline the running of both club and international competitions in the region, manage the commercialisation of media and sponsorship rights as well as promote unity between the nations.

    Another key call made at the gathering saw the long-delayed 23rd Gulf Cup – to be re-named Gulf Nations Cup – permanently handed to Qatar. The new hosts have been given further time to decide the exact dates of its running, which will be from December 2017-January 2018.

    The tournament was originally to be held in Kuwait during December 2015. But political ructions in the latter-mentioned country during last summer about infrastructure saw the event postponed.

    FIFA’s later suspension of the country’s FA in October 2015 then ensured it was given to Qatar in the interim prior to the outcome of an appeal earlier this month, which was soundly rejected.

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