AFC Asian Cup: Qatar offers shoulder to Palestine in opening ceremony

As thousands of people flocked to the stadium – some bringing their kids on their shoulders while some singing regional songs for their teams – one country unified all, Palestine.

Qatar’s forward #10 Hassan Al-Haydos and Palestine’s defender #07 Musab al-Battat speak during the opening ceremony of the AFC Qatar 2023 Asian Cup before the Group A football match between Qatar and Lebanon at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on January 12, 2024. | Photo Credit: AFP

The opening ceremony of the AFC Asian Cup started with a brilliant enactment of the Arabian folk tale, Kelilah and Demnah, as the Lusail Stadium lit up at its pompous best on a pleasant evening on Friday.

As thousands of people flocked to the stadium – some bringing their kids on their shoulders while some singing regional songs for their teams – one country unified all, Palestine.

Fans with Palestinian flags around their back, some wearing its colours while others carrying tiny paper flags, waving them around the stadium throughout the game, showed solidarity with the Arab nation, plunged in grief and misery, through its continuous war with Israel.

According to Oxfam, Palestinians are being killed at an average rate of 250 people a day, which is more than the daily death toll of any other major conflict in the 21st century.

Farooq, a 35-year-old construction worker, was one of the thousands with words of solidarity before the match. With a few friends from Bangladesh, he stood waiting for someone to offer tickets as he missed his chance to get a seat inside the grand stadium for the opening clash.

“Someone or the other will have to stand with them. In whatever way we can, we will,” he said with a smile.

Qatar stood with Palestine in every essence. And during the opening ceremony, it took that stance a notch above during the ceremony attended by over 50, 000 people.

A Palestine fan inside the stadium before the match. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Hassan Al-Haydos, the captain of Qatar, who led the side to the AFC Asian Cup glory in 2019, was supposed to take the oath of Asian Cup, like any captain of the host team.

Instead, he passed on the mic to Palestine’s captain, Musab Al-Battat, who completed the oath, and the ceremony ended with part of Palestine’s national anthem.

And just then, football took a backseat, giving love and brotherhood a chance.

“It is known that the host country’s captain takes the championship’s oath. And I am honoured to take the oath. But allow me to pass that right to my colleague, Mossab Battat, the captain of Palestine,” Al-Haydos said, handing the mic to Al-Battat.

“In the name of God, the most merciful, in my name and on behalf of my colleagues, I swear by God Almighty, the one who triumphs light over darkness, I swear to abide by the law of fair competition, in law and custom, in spirit and content.

And to convey to the public what reflects my upright character and, God is my witness,” Al Battat said, as the choir sang the Palestinian national anthem in the background.