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Asian Cup: Dismal Saudi Tournament Performance Sparks Debate
Published: January 20, 2011
Saudi Arabia has become the France of Asian soccer. The kingdom’s abysmal performance in the Asian Cup in Qatar and its response to its failure is earning it the embarrassment France suffered when its national squad returned to Paris in disgrace last year from the World Cup in South Africa.
A three-time Asian champion and finalist in six of the last seven Asian Cup tournaments, Saudi Arabia failed to advance in Qatar, losing all three matches it played, including a humiliating 5-0 defeat at the feet of the Japanese.
The crisis in Saudi soccer highlights fundamental issues that often stymie Middle Eastern nations in efforts to realize their full potential. In a world of authoritarian regimes that have lost credibility among significant segments of the population, political control of soccer is as important as is control of Islam, the only two forces capable of creating alternative public spaces for pent-up frustration and anger.
That is nowhere more true than in Saudi Arabia, a country where soccer was banned until 1951, with its continued tug of war between more enlightened political and religious forces and ultra-conservatives who insist on sticking to the letter of the kingdom’s puritan interpretation of Islam.
As a result, continuity has not been Saudi soccer’s strong suit, yet it is a key building block for performance. Managers of Saudi soccer are lucky if they keep their jobs for more than a year. Coach Jose Peseiro was sacked after the Saudi squad’s shock 2-1 loss to Syria in their opening Asian Cup match in Qatar. His predecessor, Nasser Al Johar was brought back for a fifth stint, but he too was fired after two more Saudi defeats.
King Abdullah proceeded to dismiss Prince Sultan Bin Fahd as president of the Saudi Football Federation and replace him with his deputy, Prince Nawaf bin Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz....
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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