On June 3 in Beijing, the Arab media outlet "albayan" reported an interview with Syrian national team leader Abdul Qader Qadagli, in which he emotionally blamed the Chinese side's poor tournament arrangements for the change of venue for the 40-team tournament, accusing it of restricting the other participating teams.
In the face of the team's predicament, Abdul Kader Kadagli revealed that at least seven of the top players in the team, including Syrian soccer superstar Omar Karbin, may face some challenges due to a number of reasons. Nonetheless, he said, "He is still one of our beloved players and we welcome with open arms everyone who is willing to contribute to the national team. In return, he must abide by our rules and regulations."
Last November, the Syrian Football Federation announced that former Al Hilal player and striker Omar Kalbin, who now plays for Al Wahda in the UAE, had been ruled out of international competitions and banned for life from representing Syria for inappropriate comments about national team coach Nabil Maaloul.
Speaking about the ongoing preparations for the Syrian team in Dubai, Abdul Qader Qadagli said that the UAE has been the preferred location for Syria's preparations. He stressed that the preparations have been carried out with a unified approach and that all conditions are suitable for achieving the set skill objectives. He said, "The UAE has opened its arms to all and it is an excellent country for us, whether it is a training ground or comfortable accommodation, it has everything and is our favorite destination."
