Former Tunisian international Amar Jemal has ignited a firestorm of controversy, drawing parallels between the Syria-Palestine match at the Arab Cup and the infamous ‘Disgrace of Gijón’ – a 1982 World Cup game marred by alleged collusion.
Tunisia’s elimination from the Arab Cup came despite a convincing 3-0 victory over Qatar in their final group stage match. The result proved insufficient as Syria and Palestine played out a goalless draw, securing their qualification to the quarter-finals and sending Tunisia home in a scenario described as ‘the worst’.
The closing minutes of the Syria-Palestine encounter have been subjected to intense scrutiny, with accusations of deliberate time-wasting and a lack of attacking intent fueling suspicions of a pre-arranged result. This perceived ‘agreement’ ensured both nations progressed at Tunisia’s expense.
Jemal, speaking on a television program, stated that the events from the 88th minute onward were ‘unnatural’. He acknowledged Tunisia’s responsibility for failing to secure their own fate but questioned the conduct of the Syrian and Palestinian players. Jemal pointed to gestures from the Palestinian goalkeeper seemingly urging his teammates to slow down, suggesting the final moments were unlike anything witnessed earlier in the match.
“They were strolling along the promenade… no tactics, no danger, any European observer would laugh at us,” Jemal stated, highlighting the perceived lack of competitive spirit.
While conceding that Tunisia squandered opportunities against both Syria and Palestine, and only produced a flawless performance against Qatar too late, Jemal insisted that the ‘sporting code’ was not respected in the other match.
In response to Jemal’s allegations, former Palestinian international Fahd al-Attal offered a terse rebuttal: “You didn’t serve yourself… do you expect someone else to serve you?”
The controversy surrounding the Syria-Palestine match has cast a shadow over the Arab Cup, raising serious questions about fair play and the integrity of the competition. DZWatch will continue to follow this developing story.
This outcome sees Palestine top the group for the first time ever, with 5 points. Syria qualify in second place by goal difference.
