Looking for a pitch with a perfect view once football finally gets up and running again? Then why not try the Khorfakkan Stadium, tucked away on the UAE's east coast. The club's new stadium, opened only this year, has been recognised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) as providing one of the most picturesque views on the continent, with the venue finishing second in an online poll for scenic football venues. The AFC's <a href="https://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/5-picturesque-asian-football-grounds">website</a> had asked football fans to select their favourite stadium with a scenic view. The other venues in the shortlist were Nihondira Stadium, home to Japan’s Shimizu S-Pulse, Gangwon FC’s Alpensia Ski Jumping Stadium in South Korea, Jazan’s Carved Stadium at the heart of the Al Hashr mountains in Saudi Arabia, and Changlimithang Stadium, where the Bhutan national team play. Voting closed on Wednesday with the Carved Stadium winning with 54 per cent of the votes. Khorfakkan Stadium finished second with a creditable 44 per cent of the votes. The smallest in the 14-team Arabian Gulf League, it may clock in at a little more than 5,000 capacity, but the Khorfakkan Stadium boasts a backdrop that is the envy of many. On one side lies the Gulf of Oman, while a royal palace perches on top of the hill about 100 metres behind one of the goals. Promoted to the UAE top flight this season for the first time in a decade, Khorfakkan currently lie 12th in the table, two points above the relegation zone with seven rounds remaining. The league was last week postponed amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
