Controversy? Palestinian FA head tells Iraqi players he hopes they win!

[Tehranto]

Since Iraq is possibly our next opponent. What you think about this? Palestinian FA head tells Iraqi players he hops they win (against Palestine in their last game). The last game has huge implications Jordan-Japan and Iraq. If Iraq wins they go through. Don't know Arabic but on Twitter they said he said: "God-willing you beat us (Palestine) tomorrow!"

Qatari station Al-Kass first brought this to attention

[Kurdii]

Because the qataris are fair, right?

[Z Joon]

This Palestine amateur team has no business in this tournament and it's obvious. AFC should revise their qualifying method. Their presence is equivalent to free 3 points for any team, they're practically a hole/punching bag.
Any other 3rd tier team like Lebanon or Thailand would have been better. Palestine is completely lost and seems to be thinking that their Asian Cup participation is like drinking tea khooneyeh naneh.

[Kiarash]

This Palestine amateur team has no business in this tournament and it's obvious. AFC should revise their qualifying method. Any other 3rd tier team like Lebanon or Thailand would have been better. Palestine is completely lost and seems to be thinking that their Asian Cup participation is like drinking tea khooneyeh naneh.

Exactly my sentiments. Teams like Palestine bring the level of the Asian Cup down, they have no business in participating. Just keep them in AFC Challenge Cup and be done with.

[The Realist]

It's not as though Palestine was going to beat Iraq if their head wished for Iraq to lose, it's only a question of by what margin.

[Kurdii]

The Qataris publicize everything yet they are the real cheaters...

[Tehranto]

Because the qataris are fair, right?

Whether they are fair or not is not important in this question. Palestinian FA head doing this is absolutely atrocious and I hope all parties get penalized.

This has no place in professional sports.

[Camran khan]

This Palestine amateur team has no business in this tournament and it's obvious. AFC should revise their qualifying method. Their presence is equivalent to free 3 points for any team, they're practically a hole/punching bag.
Any other 3rd tier team like Lebanon or Thailand would have been better. Palestine is completely lost and seems to be thinking that their Asian Cup participation is like drinking tea khooneyeh naneh.

It's a joke that Thailand/Lebanon are not in the Asian cup but Palestine is.

[Bi-honar]

It's a joke that Thailand/Lebanon are not in the Asian cup but Palestine is.

Thailand wouldn't have qualified anyway Camran jaan if the two Challenge Cup spots hadn't gone to N. Korea and Palestine, but Lebanon was next in line after China who squeezed through as the only 3rd placed team.

Lebanon actually had the same number of points as China, so it's truly sad that they lost their spot to Palestine, considering how well China has done in the tournament and these disgraceful comments by the Palestinian FA who obviously have no respect for the integrity of the competition.

If the Challenge Cup wasn't there and the teams from there would have participated in the regular qualification process, I think N. Korea would have still made it. Malaysia was next with 7 points without the Challenge Cup teams.

[Shah Abbas]

It's a joke that Thailand/Lebanon are not in the Asian cup but Palestine is.

Honestly, you guys are so bitter.
It's also a joke that Asia has 4 teams in the World Cup.

[teammelli91]

Sigh..

[Tehranto]

Can we stop with whether Palestine should be in or out? This is basically cheating what the Palestinian FA head did.

I hope the parties get penalized.

[irani8perspolis]

This Palestine amateur team has no business in this tournament and it's obvious. AFC should revise their qualifying method. Their presence is equivalent to free 3 points for any team, they're practically a hole/punching bag.
Any other 3rd tier team like Lebanon or Thailand would have been better. Palestine is completely lost and seems to be thinking that their Asian Cup participation is like drinking tea khooneyeh naneh.

Its hard to believe that next Asian Cup there will be 24 teams and we will have to deal with 8 more Palestine's

[GolfePersique]

Arab Football confederation is a joke.
I wish there was a way we could get out of it.

[KC McElroy]

So two arab countries discuss fixing their match against each other. And the news is?