FA announce delayed UAE football season to begin on October 8

Ahmed Barman, left, of Al Ain shadows Al Jazira's Omar Abdulrahman during the Arabian Gulf League football match at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. All photos by Pawan Singh / The National

The match was played in front of empty stands after the FA ordered all UAE matches to be played behind closed doors.

Al Ain, in purple, in action against hosts Al Jazira.

Al Ain's Laba Kodjo.

Al Ain's Caio Canedo, right, shields the ball from Al Jazira's Omar Abdulrahman.

Ahmed Barman of Al Ain, left, in action against Al Jazira's Omar Abdulrahman.

Mohamed Abdulrahman, of Al Ain, passes the ball.

The new UAE football season will kick off on October 8, it was announced on Tuesday.

The campaign, postponed last month the day prior to its start, will begin with the Arabian Gulf Cup, with preliminary qualifying matches of the President's Cup to take place the following day.

The Arabian Gulf League will begin the following week on October 16.

A statement by the Football Association read: “The UAE Football Association, in coordination with the UAE Pro League, decided to kick-off the football competitions for the 2020-2021 sports season on October 8th with the Arabian Gulf Cup, followed by the preliminary qualifying matches of the First Division clubs in the President's Cup on October 9th.

“The decision comes after a series of coordination meetings with the competent authorities in the country. The UAE Football Association and the UAE Pro League will issue the schedules and dates of matches for all football competitions within a sufficient period to allow the clubs to be optimally prepared for the new season's competitions.

“The Football Association is grateful to the clubs for their commitment and adherence to the application of the approved protocols in order to preserve the safety of members of the technical and administrative bodies, players and workers in the football sector.”

The 2019/20 season was cancelled in June after being suspended in March because of the coronavirus outbreak. There were seven rounds remaining. It was later decided that leaders Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, who were six points clear of second-placed Al Ain, would not be crowned champions. The bottom two clubs, Hatta and Fujairah, were exempted from relegation.

Meanwhile, the President’s Cup final, to be contested between Al Ain and Al Dhafra, was delayed indefinitely.