FIFA bans player for 10 games for racism in qualifier

FILE – Oman’s Ahmed Mubarak Al Mahaijri (R) fights for the ball against Bahrain’s Sayed Baqer during the 2017 Gulf Cup of Nations semi-final football match between Oman and Bahrain at the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium in Kuwait City on January 2, 2018. (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP)

ZURICH — FIFA has banned a Bahrain player for 10 games for racism in a World Cup qualifier.

Sayed Baqer formed a slanted-eye gesture toward fans at the Nov. 14 game in Hong Kong. The incident was captured on camera from the stands as the players left the field and the footage was posted on Twitter.

Baqer was also fined 30,000 Swiss francs ($30,000).

The strong punishment has been imposed after FIFA announced in July that the minimum ban for racism was being doubled to 10 games.

In a separate case from 2022 World Cup qualifying in Asia, FIFA ordered Indonesia to play a game behind closed doors without fans over crowd disturbances in a game against Malaysia.

The Indonesia soccer federation was also fined 200,000 Swiss francs and its Malaysian counterpart was fined 50,000 Swiss francs.