January 8 – Oman is celebrating only its second ever Gulf cup title but last Friday’s victory over the United Arab Emirates was marred by at least 40 fans being injured after a glass barrier collapsed.
Oman claimed victory with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win after the game had ended scoreless after 120 minutes but shortly afterwards a barrier at the Jaber International Stadium in Kuwait broke as jubilant fans pressed forward with the team several metres below at pitch level showing off the trophy.
Kuwait’s minister of state for youth affairs Khaled al-Roudhan said “around 40 people” had been hospitalised for “minor injuries” and that the Kuwaiti authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
Oman’s hero was goalkeeper Faiyz Al Rashidi who saved a penalty two minutes from the end of regulation time, then rose to the occasion in the shootout as his team won the trophy for the first time since 2009.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Yemen and hosts Kuwait were the other participants in an event held every two years since the first edition in 1970.
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