In video: an Iraq legend provokes Egypt and Jordan

The Gulf Football Federation is working to expand the scope of participation in the Gulf Cup tournaments during the coming period, bringing in teams from outside the Gulf federations, such as Egypt, Morocco, China and Jordan.

Nashat Akram, the former Iraq national team star, spoke about the plan during his appearance on the programme "Al-Majlis", presented by the media figure Khalid Jassem on Qatar's Al-Kass channels: "At the outset, we need to know the reason for expanding the scope of participation. Is the purpose marketing or technical?".

He added: "The teams proposed to take part in the Gulf Cup, such as Egypt and Jordan, will come in order to earn money, not to spend money".

"We must be realistic and logical," he continued. "Any team will focus on the money, and will not look at increasing the value of the tournament from a technical standpoint".

Former Kuwaiti player Jamal Mubarak took a different view: "I fully support the addition of teams from outside the Gulf federations, on the condition that they participate with their first-choice senior team".

Omani analyst Ahmed Al-Rawas was not convinced: "I do not agree with expanding the scope of participation. We have the Arab Cup for national teams, and it achieved extraordinary success, whereas the Gulf Cup has a different distinctiveness".

Saeed Al-Owairan, the Saudi national team legend, stressed: "Expanding participation will create a new Arab tournament. I think 8 teams is a sufficient number for the Gulf Cup".

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