It’s been a while since the Middle East Football Review appeared here, but the past weekend has generated a few interesting stories in the region.
Rare scenes of violence in the UAE’s Clasico Abu Dhabi between Al Ain and Al Wahda
The football season in the UAE is on fire, and the two Abu Dhabi clubs, Al Ain and Al Wahd, are at the top of the table. On Saturday, the two went head to head at the Al Nahyan Stadium. Al-Ain won 1-0 with a dramatic goal, but the big story took place in the stands. Fans from both teams started fighting in scenes unusual for Emirati stadiums - the authorities have ordered the arrest of those involved.
We have seen more and more violence in football stadiums across the region recently. Let's hope it is just a bypassing trend and nothing more.
🚨🚨🚨🎥
— نواف الآسيوي 🇸🇦 (@football_ll55) March 12, 2022
إشتباكات قوية جدًا جدًا جدًا بين جمهور الفريقين العين والوحدة في استاد ال نهيان!!!!!
يا سااااااااااااتر! 😰😰😰😰😰😰😰#الوحده_العين pic.twitter.com/g2frjvyNVa
Egypt's mega clubs are in trouble in the African CAF Champions League
On Friday, Zamalek lost to Wydad in Cairo, and are out of the African Champions League.
Big rivals and reigning African champions Al Ahly are also in trouble after a second consecutive loss - could the two Egyptian giants be eliminated in the early stages?
While Zamalek have no chance to continue, if Al Ahly fail to beat Sudanese Al Hilal and Al Merreikh, it would be the first time in nearly seven years that no Egyptian side has made it to the knockout stages.
Al Ahly have won the African Champions League 10 times, with Zamalek winning a further five. Is this an earthquake in Egyptian and African football? We should wait and see.
Palestinian-Jordanian special tournament to take place in the West Bank
Three teams from Jordan, two teams from the West Bank, and one team from Gaza are ready to participate in a special tournament - the Al Quds Al Karameh Championship.
Starring in the championship are Al Wehdat and Al Faisaly, Jordan's two mega clubs, alongside the reigning domestic champions, Al Ramtha. From the West Bank, Shabab Al Khaleel and Jabel Mukbaer, and Shabab Rafah from Gaza (if they receive the approval to arrive in the West Bank).
It’ll take place in two stadiums: Faisal Husseini in Al-Ram near Jerusalem and the Dura International Stadium.
The tournament's name honours the infamous Battle of Karameh on March 21 1968.
Back then, the IDF and the joint forces of the PLO and the Jordanian Armed Forces fought near Karameh, leaving scores of casualties on both sides. Still, this battle became a symbolic moment in the Arab, Palestinian and Jordanian heritage.
If the tournament goes ahead as planned - with all the visiting sides, the symbolic event, and fans in the stadiums - it will be an interesting moment in football history for sure.
A very interesting tournament will be played in Hebron & Jerusalem at the end of March:
— Uri Levy (@Levyninho) March 8, 2022
Al Quds-Al Karameh Cup
🇯🇴 Al Wehdat (Amman)
🇯🇴 Al Faisal (Amman)
🇯🇴 Al Ramtha
🇵🇸 Shabab Al Khaleel (Hebron)
🇵🇸 Jabel Mukaber (Jerusalem)
🇵🇸 Shabab Rafah (Gaza)
March 19th - 25th. pic.twitter.com/GqJVPeBt9O
Photo via Wafa.