Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUWAIT132
2007-01-31 07:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
MPS BLAME RULING FAMILY FOR NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM'S
how-toVZCZCXRO3249 PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHKU #0132 0310710 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 310710Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8165 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS KUWAIT 000132
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SCUL KPAO KU
SUBJECT: MPS BLAME RULING FAMILY FOR NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM'S
DISMAL PERFORMANCE
Sensitive But Unclassified; not for Internet distribution.
UNCLAS KUWAIT 000132
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SCUL KPAO KU
SUBJECT: MPS BLAME RULING FAMILY FOR NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM'S
DISMAL PERFORMANCE
Sensitive But Unclassified; not for Internet distribution.
1. (SBU) As Kuwait returns from its worst performance ever
at the 18th annual Gulf Football Tournament in the UAE --
drawing one match and losing two -- Members of Parliament
(MPs) minced no words in laying blame squarely on the ruling
family. (Note: Kuwait has won the tournament nine times.
Shaykh Ahmed Al-Yousef Al-Saud Al-Sabah is the head of the
Kuwait Football Association, which manages Kuwait's national
football team. End note.) Kuwait's performance sparked a
loud public outcry complete with public demonstrations, mock
funerals (for Kuwaiti sports),and public hand-wringing from
a host of commentators. Kuwaiti teams have lately performed
poorly at a number of other regional sporting events.
2. (SBU) At a January 28 seminar on Kuwaiti sports hosted by
the National Democratic Alliance (NDA),a liberal political
association, MPs Ahmed Saadoun, Mohammed Jassem Al-Sager, and
Faisal Al-Shaye slammed the ruling Al-Sabah family for
"kidnapping" sports in Kuwait and appointing incompetent
administrators, and promised to pass legislation to "salvage
Kuwaiti sports." Al-Sager, the Chairman of Parliament's
Foreign Affairs Committee, blamed Al-Sabah family members for
"monopolizing" key sports management positions and suggested
that "ruling family members who are incompetent should stay
at home." Al-Shaye said Kuwait's most recent sporting
failure "has clearly demonstrated the power struggle within
the ruling family over sports." Al-Saadoun argued that
sports in Kuwaiti were "kidnapped by some people who care
only for power, fame, and the spotlight." The MPs' comments
received wide media coverage.
3. (SBU) Comment: Young Kuwaitis are passionate about
sports, particularly soccer, so it is not surprising that the
opposition politicians are rushing to exploit the perception
of ruling family bungling. It is not unusual in Kuwait to
hear harsh public criticism of ruling family members--the
Amir and Crown Prince aside.
********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************* *
TUELLER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SCUL KPAO KU
SUBJECT: MPS BLAME RULING FAMILY FOR NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM'S
DISMAL PERFORMANCE
Sensitive But Unclassified; not for Internet distribution.
1. (SBU) As Kuwait returns from its worst performance ever
at the 18th annual Gulf Football Tournament in the UAE --
drawing one match and losing two -- Members of Parliament
(MPs) minced no words in laying blame squarely on the ruling
family. (Note: Kuwait has won the tournament nine times.
Shaykh Ahmed Al-Yousef Al-Saud Al-Sabah is the head of the
Kuwait Football Association, which manages Kuwait's national
football team. End note.) Kuwait's performance sparked a
loud public outcry complete with public demonstrations, mock
funerals (for Kuwaiti sports),and public hand-wringing from
a host of commentators. Kuwaiti teams have lately performed
poorly at a number of other regional sporting events.
2. (SBU) At a January 28 seminar on Kuwaiti sports hosted by
the National Democratic Alliance (NDA),a liberal political
association, MPs Ahmed Saadoun, Mohammed Jassem Al-Sager, and
Faisal Al-Shaye slammed the ruling Al-Sabah family for
"kidnapping" sports in Kuwait and appointing incompetent
administrators, and promised to pass legislation to "salvage
Kuwaiti sports." Al-Sager, the Chairman of Parliament's
Foreign Affairs Committee, blamed Al-Sabah family members for
"monopolizing" key sports management positions and suggested
that "ruling family members who are incompetent should stay
at home." Al-Shaye said Kuwait's most recent sporting
failure "has clearly demonstrated the power struggle within
the ruling family over sports." Al-Saadoun argued that
sports in Kuwaiti were "kidnapped by some people who care
only for power, fame, and the spotlight." The MPs' comments
received wide media coverage.
3. (SBU) Comment: Young Kuwaitis are passionate about
sports, particularly soccer, so it is not surprising that the
opposition politicians are rushing to exploit the perception
of ruling family bungling. It is not unusual in Kuwait to
hear harsh public criticism of ruling family members--the
Amir and Crown Prince aside.
********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************* *
TUELLER