Jassim Al Rumaihi apologises to Jeddah after Gulf 27 ticket-price controversy

Jassim Al Rumaihi has apologised to the people of Jeddah after comments about ticket prices sparked the first controversy of the Arabian Gulf Cup’s 27th edition, Gulf 27.

The tournament began in Jeddah on Wednesday, with eight national teams taking part. The competition will continue until the final on 6 October.

The dispute began on Tuesday, just hours before the opening of the competition, when Al Rumaihi was asked by a Saudi journalist about the high cost of tickets.

The secretary general of the Gulf Cup Football Federation replied that the prices might seem expensive to him because he was from Jeddah.

His remarks prompted strong criticism from supporters and Saudi football legends. Al Rumaihi issued an apology on Wednesday and said he had not intended to cause offence in any way.

Speaking to Nabd Twaiq, Al Rumaihi said Saudi Arabia held a special place in his heart, with Jeddah particularly important to him. He described the people of the city as generous and said their contribution was valued by everyone.

He also repeated his apology to the people of Jeddah and Saudi Arabia, asking them not to interpret his words incorrectly.

“I hope the fans did not misunderstand me. Jeddah is different, and everyone welcomes us,” Al Rumaihi said.

The controversy was resolved on the day the tournament got under way, with the Qatari official seeking to clarify the meaning of his original comments.

Jeddah is only the third non-capital city in the history of the Arabian Gulf Cup to host the competition. It follows Aden in Yemen and Basra in Iraq.

Gulf 27 will be staged in Jeddah through to the final on 6 October, with the eight participating teams competing for the title.