Saudi police detain UAE fans following Gulf Cup Final brawl

JEDDAH, Oct. 08 (YPA) – Saudi authorities have taken legal actions against several people involved in a mass brawl and another person accused of assaulting an event organizer following the final of the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup between Saudi Arabia and the UAE in Jeddah on Tuesday.

In a statement, Jeddah polices said it had responded promptly to a video circulating online that showed several individuals involved in a group brawl following a sports event.

The Public Security authority stated on its X platform account that all necessary legal procedures have been taken against those involved.

In a separate statement, police said legal action had been taken against a person seen in a video throwing food at an event organizer after the sporting event ended.

The Saudi authorities did not disclose the identities or nationalities of those involved. Activists, however, circulated a video showing a UAE fan throwing a piece of ice at an event organizer.

Other footage showed UAE fans assaulting a Saudi fan, prompting Saudi social media accounts to claim that those detained were UAE nationals.

The final, held at Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah, was marked by tensions between Saudi and UAE fans, including exchanges of jeers and water bottles being thrown onto the pitch. Tensions later spilled over into the area around the stadium after the final whistle.

Saudi Arabia won the Arabian Gulf Cup for the fourth time after beating the UAE 2-0. Humam Al-Hamami and Firas Al-Buraikan scored the goals, ending Saudi Arabia’s 23-year wait for another Gulf Cup title.

@E.Y.M