“The next phase is still unknown.
The circumstances are difficult but in spite that there is still hope!
I hope this is not the end.
God is the provider.”
Those were the words of Musab Al-Battat in a cryptic Instagram story posted earlier this week.
Shortly thereafter the club he played for last season signed 37 year old Icelandic midfielder turned right back Aaron Gunnarson. Signalling a decision had been made- Musab Al-Battat was a surplus to requirements. Ataa Jaber would be used to fill the Palestine player until he returns from injury.
When the decision to formally introduce a Palestinian player slot for each of the QSL teams it was seen as a step forward. Over the past two and a half years Palestinian players have played in the Qatari top flight but only after clubs petitioned the football association for an exemption.
The process of securing the exemption was opaque and often required the intervention of government officials. The new rule was supposed to help but instead it has had an adverse effect.
Football Palestine spoke with several Palestinian footballers plying their trade in Qatar. All spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships and their status in the league.
“We were waiting for something like this to happen. We wanted clarity, [Palestine Football Association President Jibril Rajoub] Abu Rami got involved and we were informed the next day of the ruling.”
“It was quite rushed and there was no consultation with us”
“It seems to me that they are laying the ground work to say yalla this is your last year here.” One player told Football Palestine.
Another player also criticized the decision on the basis that Palestinian players can be registered but will count as part of the foreign quota if fielded. “The mindset of the clubs is- why should I sign a Palestinian player if he is not going to play?”
The mindset of most clubs is that Palestine’s best players might be better than the vast majority of Qatari players but are not good enough to be fielded ahead of a South American or European player.
That mindset permeates many of the QSL clubs with one even contacting Oday Dabbagh asking if he would like to join the club. The verbal offer would have necessitated him finding a way to void his Zamalek contract. To add further insult, the player was told he would be given the salary allocated to players who occupy the Palestine player slot- a fraction of the amount he currently earns in Egypt.
The first player that Football Palestine interviewed for this story put it quite bluntly:
“Yes, some players will find contracts but you are going to have most the players training and not playing.”