Friday evening was a night of fireworks both on and off the pitch at Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. Al Jazira, who clinched the Arabian Gulf League title last month, crushed Al Dhafra 4-0 in their last home league match of a storied season. The final whistle was followed by a spectacular pyrotechnics display and the presentation of the AGL trophy, a fitting end to an altogether explosive evening.
That title victory secured Al Jazira a provisional place in the Fifa Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi this year, although they may yet be deprived of mixing it with the likes of Real Madrid or Juventus.
A Fifa rule dictates that Al Jazira’s participation in the competition is dependent on the winner of this year’s AFC Champions League “not being affiliated to the UAEFA”. With Al Ain and Al Ahli still in Champions League contention, Al Jazira’s dream may yet be thwarted. The beautiful game has a habit of turning up these kind of cruel twists and this one may not be untangled until late November – less than two weeks before the Club World Cup begins.