UAE Footballer Jailed For Three Months... For Insulting Coach

United Arab Emirates international Abdullah Qassem has been jailed for three months after criticising national team head coach Mahdi Ali according to local media.

Footage of Abdullah Qassem, who has not featured for the national team since Mahdi Ali (pictured above) was appointed in July 2012, appeared online of him insulting the head coach

The National newspaper report the 29-year-old was recorded making indecent comments about Ali after failing to be called up to the international squad, with footage being published online.

Qassem, along with an unnamed Al-Dhafra team-mate, was sentenced at the Abu Dhabi Court of Misdemeanours on Monday having already been suspended by the UAE Arabian Gulf League team.

The midfielder, who has just three appearances for the UAE of which the last came just five months before Ali was appointed in July 2012, claims through his lawyer that the footage was leaked without his consent.

Qassem, along with a second unnamed Al-Dhafra player who filmed the rant, were given the three-month sentences by the Abu Dhabi Court of Misdemeanours, the paper said.

The duo were found guilty of using telecommunications services to offend and hurt the feelings of others, and displaying a recording that breached public ethics through the internet.

Both players had already been suspended by their club but Qassem’s lawyer had argued the video was published without his client’s consent and that he was a victim in the crime. He also said Ali had not wished to press charges against Qassem.

Extracted -Goal.com and Vanguard news reportage.

WOW....Jailed?I hope this will not be the end of his career!..hmmm!