Qatar striker Akram Afif said on Thursday he encouraged local fans to throw objects on the pitch to waste time during a decisive World Cup qualifier against the United Arab Emirates.
Qatar secured a 2-1 victory over the UAE at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Tuesday, topping Group A of the Asian play-offs and directly qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
The Asian champions needed a win to qualify straight away, while a draw would have been enough for the UAE to advance.
Videos circulating online showed Afif gesturing to fans, who then threw water bottles onto the pitch towards the end of the match.
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«Just to waste time, of course. To be honest, I told them to throw (things) so we could waste time,» Afif said during a television interview with the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat during the AFC Awards ceremony in Riyadh.
“At the same time I asked them to stop so the referee wouldn’t add extra injury time,” he added with a smile. “In the end we wanted the three points.”
Tensions escalated when Pedro Miguel scored Qatar’s second goal in the 74th minute, prompting UAE fans to throw bottles and plastic cups onto the pitch before play resumed.
Similar incidents occurred during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, when Qatar defeated hosts UAE 4-0 in the semi-finals, prompting Emirati fans to throw objects and mobile phones at Qatari players.
Afif, 28, a two-time AFC player of the year, played a crucial role in Qatar’s campaign to qualify for the World Cup.
It will be Qatar’s second participation in the tournament, after hosting it in 2022.
Published on October 17, 2025
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