12 Friday, November 6, 2020 Sports Qatar 2022 will shine a positive light on Middle East and the Arab world, says Iraq’s Justin Meram

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member of Iraq’s na- tional team since 2014, AJustin Meram under- stands the Middle East’s pas- sion for football. The US-born midfielder – a familiar face to Major League Soccer fans following spells with Columbus Crew, Orlando City and Atlanta United – qualifies to play for Iraq through his parents. Now playing his trade with Real Salt Lake, the 31-year- old is well positioned to speak about next FIFA World Cup™ hosts, having visited and played in the country on vari- ous occasions during his inter- national career. Justin Meram has been a member of the Iraq national team since 2014. The US-born midfielder Meram – a familiar face to Major League Soccer fans following spells with Colum- In an exclusive interview bus Crew, Orlando City and Atlanta United – qualifies to play for Iraq through his parents. with qatar2022.qa, Meram see the culture, the lifestyle Our country was excited. the quality in the Qatari league, gave insight into what fans can and the beautiful stadiums, it’s As players, when we heard the the Saudi league, the UAE in modern history. Play- tling when you’re continuous- A lot of great stadiums, expect when they visit Qatar in going to be an exciting time. news, we were all excited and league, even the Iraqi league, ers will stay and train in ly on the move. Qatar’s size is a some fantastic football, great 2022 and outlined his hopes we all want to do everything I think it’s one of those situa- one location throughout real bonus for teams. They will food and a lot of things that will of being part of the first World How important do you we can to make it possible to tions where Qatar 2022 could the tournament. How be staying put and won’t need surprise you as a tourist. I think Cup in the Middle East and think it is for the World play in this tournament, es- really help these leagues and important is it to avoid to take any flights during the everyone should try visiting the Arab world with the Lions of Cup to head to new regions, pecially with it being so close bring more attention to them. long travel times between tournament. Middle East during their life – Mesopotamia. such as the Middle East? to home and knowing there matches? It’s also a bonus for fans, go and see the culture and the I think it’s very important. are many Iraqis in Qatar. All Qatar 2022 will be held Every athlete knows that who won’t need to travel to way people live there. It’s a very As a proud Iraqi and A lot of people are going to be the countries in the region are in November and Decem- flying takes a toll on your different cities. Qatar will get a simple life for the most part a member of the Iraq na- blown away by the culture of very excited about the World ber. How do you think body, so this will be another lot of great exposure as a tour- with good people. tional team, how excited the Middle East, along with Cup heading to Qatar. that will affect the players advantage for all the teams ist destination. Fans will be ex- are you to see the next the magnificent buildings and, and fans? in Qatar and help them stay periencing the Middle East for Finally, how much of a FIFA World Cup take of course, the passion for foot- Having played in the From my perspective, it’s fresh. During the Asian Cup the first time and enjoying the is it for you and your place in neighbouring Qa- ball. I think it’s going to turn Middle East during your going to raise the level [of in 2015 in Australia, we went football. All in all, there’s a lot Iraq teammates to qualify tar in 2022? the minds of people in a posi- career, how would you play]. The temperature will be from playing in Wollongong, of positives for those fans who for Qatar 2022? Obviously, I’m very ex- tive way. describe the passion for perfect for football and I think to Brisbane, to Sydney, to will travel to Qatar in 2022. It’s the biggest goal. We’ve cited. I think it’s going to be football in the region? many of the players will be in Newcastle. After every game done pretty well so far in the fantastic for the Middle East When Qatar was The passion is there, but I peak condition. we were packing our bags, get- And from an experi- qualifiers, so we’ll keep push- and the World Cup. For many awarded the World Cup, think it doesn’t get enough at- ting on flights, traveling, get- ence point of view, what ing one game at a time. Hope- people from around the world what was the reaction of tention. The geography might Qatar 2022 will be the ting to a new hotel, unpacking can those fans expect fully, the best is yet to come for to come to the Middle East to football fans in Iraq? be a reason, but if you look at most compact World Cup and training. It’s a little unset- when they travel to Qatar? Iraq.

Longines Qatar Equestrian Barca need Ter Stegen to seal nervy win Tour Hathab 2020-21 AFP Juventus last week, has come Ter Stegen stars ball too easily by Vladyslav Su- Barcelona in stark contrast to a stumbling Barca’s goalkeeper was pryaha, who hit Ter Stegen’s start to the season in . making his first appearance right boot. Third round action scored an- A 1-1 draw away at Ala- of the season after recovering other penalty but Barcelona ves on Saturday made it four from a knee injury and the only UEFA Champions League had Marc-Andre ter Stegen to league games without a win rival for his brilliant display Wednesday Results: at QEF from today thank for a nervy Champions and leaves Barcelona sitting came in the opposition’s goal. Group E: At London: Chelsea League 2-1 win over Dynamo 12th in the table, eight points With Dynamo’s two first- (ENG) 3 (Werner 10-pen, 41-pen, Tribune News Network The exciting first three Kiev on Wednesday, which will behind Real . choice keepers ill, the 18-year- Abraham 50) Rennes (FRA) 0 Doha rounds of the annual 12-leg do little to ease the pressure on “In the Champions League old Ruslan Neshcheret was At : Sevilla (ESP) 3 top domestic equestrian se- coach . we’re fine, in the league we have called up to make only his sec- (Rakitic 42, En-Nesyri 69, 72) The third round of the fourth ries has seen the experienced Goalkeeper Ter Stegen to change but I’m convinced we ond senior appearance and he Krasnodar (RUS) 2 (Suleymanov season of the Longines Qatar Hamad Ali Al Attiyah lead had to make a string of excel- will,” said Pique. “The mood is put on a superb display. 17, Berg 21-pen) Equestrian Tour Hathab sup- the Big Tour class with a tally lent stops at Camp Nou to save better, there are new players, Barcelona were on top Group F: At Bruges: Club Brugge ported by The Social & Sport of 60 points thus far. Saeed Barca from slipping up against young players who are bringing in the early stages as Messi (BEL) 0 (GER) Contribution Fund 2020-2021 Nasser Al Qadi trails him in a depleted Dynamo side, who dynamism to the group and the won and then converted his 3 (T. Hazard 14, Haaland 18, 32) will get underway at the in- second place with 52 points, were without nine first-team way we play.” fifth-minute penalty before At Saint Petersburg: Zenit Saint door arena of Qatar Equestri- while Nasser Al Ghazali oc- players after they tested posi- Victory against Dynamo struck the crossbar and Petersburg (RUS) 1 (Erokhin 32) an Federation on Friday. cupies the third spot with the tive for coronavirus. was all-important for morale dragged Lazio (ITA) 1 (Caicedo 82) The mandatory veterinary same number of points. Viktor Tsygankov gave Dy- and for Koeman, whose fu- wide at the far post with the Group G: At Barcelona: Bar- checks for the participating The Medium Tour is led namo hope with 15 minutes ture is uncertain given a new corner gaping. celona (ESP) 2 (Messi 5-pen, horses was done on Thursday by rider Mohammed Saeed left after Messi scored a pen- president will take over in the Pedri, Messi and Ansu Fati Pique 65) Dynamo Kiev (UKR) 1 and the stage is now set for the Haydan (53 points), followed alty and Gerard Pique headed next three months after the all went close with shots but (Tsygankov 75) showjumping action which be- by Cyrine Cherif. On the in but Ter Stegen’s heroics resignation of Josep Maria Kiev survived and as the half At Budapest: Ferencvaros (HUN) gins 3pm today. third place is Rashid Towaim ensured Barcelona held on for Bartomeu. wore on, found a way to make 1 (Boli 90) Juventus (ITA) 4 The two-day round will see Al Marri. their third victory out of three Yet there were no cel- Barca feel uncomfortable. (Morata 7, 60, Dybala 73, Dvali Small and Medium Tour ac- The Longines Qatar in Group G. ebrations from the players at Ter Stegen began by palm- 81-og) tion on the opening day, while Equestrian Tour is being held Their 100 per cent re- full-time and Koeman’s face ing out Vitaliy Buyalskiy’s Group H: At Leipzig: RB Leipzig the Future Riders Class (For behind closed doors following cord so far in the Champions throughout was one of angst header and then Frenkie de (GER) 2 (Nkunku 42, Forsberg beginners and U-14), the Open the coronavirus pandemic and League, which included an im- and frustration as Ter Stegen Barcelona’s German goalkeeper Jong, being deployed at cen- 57-pen) Paris Saint-Germain Class, and the Big Tour will as per the health and safety pressive performance away at was repeatedly called upon. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. (AFP) tre-back, was pushed off the (FRA) 1 (Di Maria 6). take place on the second and protocols of the Ministry of final day (Saturday). Public Health. FIFA asked to review controversial Saudi Arabia says will host handball rule, UEFA confirm

AFP Chelsea two goals ahead in their F1 GP for first time next year Paris 3-0 Champions League win over Rennes on Wednesday. AFP UEFA have asked FIFA Presi- Rennes defender Dalbert, Jeddah A rider takes dent Gianni Infantino to who had already given away his horse for change the handball rule to the first penalty which had put Saudi Arabia said on Thurs- vet check stop “growing frustration” Chelsea ahead, was sent off for day it will host a Formula One at QEF on following a spate of penalties a second booking following a Grand Prix for the first time Thursday. awarded for the offence, Euro- VAR review when a Tammy next year, with a night race in pean football’s governing body Abraham shot bounced off his the Red Sea city of Jeddah. confirmed on Thursday. foot onto his arm. “Hosting this event is part of In a letter to Infantino, The decision, and Timo the ‘Vision 2030’ project, with UEFA chief Aleksander Cefer- Werner’s cool finish from the support of our leadership in asked that football’s law- the spot, effectively killed off and especially His Highness the makers adjust the handball the Ligue 1 side’s chances of Crown Prince,” Sports Minis- rule -- which has been in place getting a result at Stamford ter Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki since March last year -- so that Bridge in their first ever sea- said, referring to the kingdom’s referees can once again judge son in the Champions League. transformation plan. Saudi Arabia had been pencilled in for the 2021 season as part of a whether there is intent when a Rennes president Nicolas Saudi Arabia had been record 23-race Formula One programme. player handles the ball. Holveck was livid after the de- pencilled in for the 2021 sea- “The attempt to strictly feat in London, calling referee son as part of a record 23-race Prince Abdulaziz told a press It also staged the Ital- define the cases where han- Felix Zwayer “the man of the Formula One programme, as conference. ian and Spanish Super Cup dling the ball is an offence has match”. the sport seeks to bounce back Formula One has come finals last year – with the resulted in many unfair deci- “I would like someone to from a shortened 2020 season under close scrutiny over the added attraction of football sions which have been met clearly explain to me the rules that has been disrupted by the staging of a race in Bahrain superstars Cristiano Ronal- with growing frustration and for handballs in the box ... the coronavirus pandemic. and the addition of Saudi Ara- do and Lionel Messi. discomfort by the football com- score went to 2-0 without Alfred The kingdom itself is bia is sure to escalate criticism And along with Qatar, munity,” said Ceferin’s letter, (Gomis, the Rennes goalkeeper) emerging from a strict lock- from human rights watchers. which will host the 2022 foot- which was sent on October 27. having to make a save.” down, after the virus infected The kingdom already hosts ball World Cup, Saudi is com- The contents of the letter It was one of many penalty more than 336,000 people, the Dakar Rally, a 12-day peting for the right to host the were confirmed to AFP’s sister decisions which have angered with 5,489 deaths. marathon through the Arabi- 2030 Asian Games. sports agency in Germany, SID. players and managers and “We hope to overcome this an desert, and the all-electric The expanded sporting The news of the letter comes which Ceferin in his letter sug- pandemic and that people will Formula E series, in addition schedule is part of a push to a day after the latest controver- gested was against the “spirit be able to attend, but things to an array of boxing, golf and draw more international tour- sial spot-kick award, which put of the game”. aren’t clear yet in this regard,” tennis events. ists, business and investment.