DUBAI: The meetings regarding the forthcoming agreement between Beitar Jerusalem and the Emirati Sheikh, Hamed bin Khalifa al-Nahian, for investing and partnership in the club continue, according to sources close to the negotiations in the United Arab Emirates.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon, a joint press conference is expected between Moshe Hogeg, the owners of Beitar Jerusalem, and Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, the Emirati member of the royal family from Abu Dhabi.
The two are supposed to announce one of the most unexpected connections in the world of sports, between a team who’s identified with the Israeli right-wing, that along the years was identified as a symbol for anti-muslim and anti-Arab agendas in Israeli football and society, and an Arab-Muslim billionaire from the royal Emirati family. The deal is setting the stage for a new dawn and a different future for Beitar as a club, and as an identity, within the Middle East.
Interestingly enough, despite the extensive coverage of the topic in Israel, in the UAE is, does not receive any attention from the local media. The reactions currently between hesitant to non-existent, both in the media and among senior local football officials.
It has not yet been determined where the historic press conference will take place, with the dozens of hotels, luxury halls and luxury towers that Dubai has to offer, there is a chance that the event will take place at Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa's house, which may well indicate the direction.
These days, Dubai has become a magnet for the football business between Israel and the UAE. As part of the cooperation signed between the two leagues in October, a delegation from the Israeli Premier League management are in the city.
In the forthcoming weeks and months, more events as such planned, with the agreement between associations, the UAEFA and the IFA, and a friendly match between Al-Ain and Maccabi Haifa.
It will be interesting to see whether the new romance affair of Middle Eastern football will develop.
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