Karami scraps fan ban for Lebanon-Qatar match

Fans have been granted permission to attend Lebanon’s key 2014 World Cup qualifying match with Qatar, after Youth and Sports Minister Faisal Karami revoked the decision to play the game behind closed doors. Karami was quoted Friday by local media as saying the game would take place Sunday with fans being allowed into the stadium to cheer their teams. An announcement had been made Thursday stating that fans would be barred from entering the Cite Sportive Stadium in Beirut Sunday, with the Lebanese government acquiescing to a request from Qatari officials over fears of fan safety. The Qatari government had voiced concerns over the security of their players and citizens after clashes recently broke out in Beirut and Tripoli, provoked by the current uprising in Syria. Given Qatar’s pro-revolutionary stance, the Qatari government and Lebanese security forces made the decision over concerns about potential demonstrations from Lebanese pro-regime supporters, fearing clashes which could jeopardize the safety of those attending the game. Despite the ruling being overturned, there are unlikely to be many Qatari fans in attendance at the game, with the Qatari government having forbidden its citizens from traveling to Lebanon following the clashes in recent weeks. The match will kick off Lebanon’s 2014 World Cup qualifying fourth round campaign. From / Daily Star