DOHA: The Qatar Football Association risks disciplinary punishment from world federation FIFA under rules and regulations prohibiting the display of political symbols or emblems at a match.

Qatar defeated South Korea 3-2 in a World Cup qualifying tie yesterday amid high tension in the Gulf over the political and economic boycott imposed on the state by Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

During the warm-up before the game the Qatari players wore shirts bearing the image of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, an image created as a gesture of defiance.

During the game midfielder Hasan Al-Haydos waved such a shirt to the crowd after opening the scoring with a 25th-minute free-kick.

Qatar hosts the World Cup in 2022. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has insisted he expects the diplomatic crisis to have been resolved long before then.

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