The UAE Pro League has announced the dates for fixtures in the second round of the Arabian Gulf League, following a coordination meeting with the national teams and technical affairs committee at the UAE Football Association.
The meeting was chaired by UAEPL board member and head of the technical committee Abdulhameed Al Mestaka, attended by member of the UAEFA temporary committee and national teams committee member Ali Hamad, deputy secretary general for technical affairs at the UAEFA Ibrahim Al Nimr. A proposal by the national teams committee about the schedule for the second half of the season was discussed during the meeting upon the request of the national team manager.
The UAEPL then held a coordination meeting with the TV broadcast right holders, in which the UAEPL presented the schedule for its competitions. In the light of the meetings, the following dates have been agreed.
Arabian Gulf Cup
It was decided that the Arabian Gulf Cup semi-final matches shall take place on January 10 upon the request of national teams committee.
Arabian Gulf League
The second round of the Arabian Gulf League kicks-off with matchweek 14 taking place on January 28 & 29, followed by matchweek 15 on February 1 & 2 and matchweek 16 on the 6 and 7.
The league then pauses for the 2020 AFC Champions League and President’s Cup quarter-finals. The competition resumes with matchweek 17 on February 27 and 28.
Matchweek 18 shall take place on March 6 and 7 followed by matchweek 19 on March 13 and 14. The league then stops again for FIFA days where the UAE national team face Malaysia and Indonesia in the Asian qualifiers and the clubs then compete in matchday three of the 2020 ACL.
The wheels resume turning on April 10 and 11 with matchweek 20, followed by matchweek 21 on April 16 and 17 and matchweek 22 on April 23, 24 and 25. Matchweek 23 takes place on May 1 and 2.
The AGL continues with matchweek 24 on May 7, 8 and 9. Matchweek 25 takes place on May 14 while the competition concludes on May 28 with matchweek 26.
Changes to the last two matchweeks may occur based on the position of UAE teams in the ACL.
#Welcome2020 👋
— Arabian Gulf League (@AGLeague_EN) December 31, 2019
We wish you all a happy, successful new year! 🇦🇪⚽ pic.twitter.com/WZuFkEEpEU
Al Mestaka: Fixture dates meet the requirements of TV channels
UAEPL board member and head of the technical committee Al Mestake explained that determining the match schedule is always done in coordination with the TV broadacast right holders through coordination meetings attended by various stakeholders.
Al Mestaka added that the UAEPL worked hard to ensure a consistent schedule that meets the requirements of TV channels and complies with the contracts signed in this regard.
The head of the UAEPL technical committee stressed that the TV channels are a key party in the process of scheduling, explaining that they are invited to discuss proposals as well as their requirements as partners before confirming the final dates. He added that some comments made on sport shows are inaccurate and are not in keeping with what was agreed with the channels in coordination meetings.
