Qatar creates problems for Iranians intending to attend Asian Cup

Tehran, Jan 11, IRNA – Despite enthusiasm of thousands of Iranian football fans, reporters and photojournalists to attend Asian Nations Cup games, none have yet been successful in obtaining a Qatar visa to attend the event.

Manager of Qahreman Seir Tourist Agency affiliated to a fund to support the sports athletes and the Physical Education Organization veteran champions, Hossein Forqani announced the news in an interview with IRNA Sports Desk Monday night.

Forqani added, 'Although the entire legal procedure for the presence of the Iranian reporters, spectators and a number of Football Federation members have been completed properly, the Qatari officials have still given no clear response to us.'

The agency manager who has been commissioned to dispatch the Iranian reporters and sport fans tp the Asian Nations Cup games by the Iranian Football Federation further reiterated, 'Some 50 passengers heading for Qatar to watch, or report the event that have even bought their tickets have still not been able to obtain their Qatar visas.'
Forqani added, 'The only responses of the Qatari officials are that they cannot issue more visas for the Iranians, or that they are surveying the visa requests of the Iranians.'

He said that some reporters and photojournalists that have obtained the Asian Football Confederation's cards to attend the special press stands at the games, too, have still not managed to gain their visas, which shows how ambiguous the policies of the Qatari officials' policies are regarding Iran.

The agency manager reiterated, 'Since some Iranian Football Federation officials, too, have not managed to obtain their visas, it seems as if the Qatari officials are pursuing a policy aimed at depriving the Iranians of the chance to attend the games so that the Iranian national team would have less supporters at the continental competitions.

Forqani reiterated, 'We assume they are doing so quite intentionally, because we are trying round the clock to solve the problem and in our last talks with the Qatari officials the announced there is no restriction, or obstacle for any nation for attending the Asian Nations Cup games.'

He said, 'The Qatari officials have provided the chance for citizens of entire world countries, save for the Iranians, to pay some 10 Qatar rials (US $28) upon arrival at Qatar Airport and obtain a visa immediately to attend the games, which is further proof they are observing double standard against the Iranians.

He informed IRNA that the other tourist agencies trying to take the Iranians to the games, too, have been faced with similar problems.
Forqani added, 'Of course the agency has received the visas of some passengers during the course of the past few days and they were immediately forwarded to Qatar, but a large number of the passengers are kept waiting and not knowing what to do.'

A member of the Tourist Agencies Syndicate Board of Directors, Majid Forqani, too, told IRNA, 'The Asian Nations Cup is the most important football event of the ancient continent, but unfortunately some Iranian reporters and sports fans have lost the chance to attend the games.'

He added, 'Due to lack of cooperation on the part of the Qatari officials the Iranian National Football Team has no fans to support it at the most important sports event of the continent, while Iran has always been providing the best possible facilities for hosting the entire Persian Gulf littoral states' sports, economic, and political officials, journalists, and fans./end