FOOTBALL – OMAN advanced to the semi-final of the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup in Jeddah after a drawing of lots separated them from Iraq, with the two teams level on every applicable tie-break criterion.
The decision came after the final Group A matches on Tuesday, when Saudi Arabia defeated Iraq 2-0 and Oman recovered from a goal down to beat Kuwait 3-1.
Saudi Arabia finished top of the group with nine points, while Oman and Iraq both ended the group stage on four points.
With the two teams unable to be separated by the tournament’s prescribed criteria, the Gulf Football Association’s Competitions Committee conducted a draw in Jeddah to determine the second semi-finalist.
Oman’s name was drawn, ending Iraq’s campaign and sending the Omanis through alongside Saudi Arabia. The extraordinary tie extended across several statistical measures.
Oman and Iraq had each collected four points, scored four goals and conceded five. Their meeting ended in a 1-1 draw, while both teams had accumulated eight yellow cards and neither had received a red card.
The outcome left Iraq coach Graham Arnold questioning the method used to settle the qualification race.
The Australian said that after the defeat to Saudi Arabia that Fifa regulations should have been considered when determining which team advanced.
“We must abide by Fifa regulations,” Arnold said, arguing that the international regulations would provide a fairer way of resolving such a situation.
Arnold also pointed to Iraq’s higher position in the Fifa world rankings as a factor he believed should have been taken into account.
Iraq were ranked 63rd in the world and eighth in Asia, compared with Oman’s 80th place globally and 11th in Asia at the time cited by the coach.
The Iraqi coach described his team’s elimination through a drawing of lots as unfair, although the tournament regulations provided for the procedure after the two sides remained level on the relevant criteria.
Oman, meanwhile, secured their place in the last four with a dramatic turnaround against Kuwait. After falling behind 1-0, they scored three times to complete a 3-1 victory and keep their qualification hopes alive.
The semi-final line-up was completed after yesterday’s conclusion of Group B, with Qatar facing the UAE and Yemen meeting Bahrain in the decisive matches.
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