Dubai: The global footballers’ union, FIFPro has asked its members to help the Bahraini soccer player arrested November in Thailand over a prison sentence in his homeland. The body said that it fears for the player’s safety. Hakeem Al Araibi, who lives and plays in Australia, was arrested in Bangkok on an Interpol notice issued at Bahrain’s request.
The Australian soccer players’ union has already asked the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to intervene to help secure his release from prison in Thailand.
Araibi, who played for Bahrain’s national soccer team and was a vocal critic of the government. He was convicted of vandalising a police station and sentenced to 10 years in prison in absentia. He denies wrongdoing.
The Bahrain government has said Araibi can appeal against the sentence if he returns to the kingdom. Araibi was granted asylum in Australia in 2017 after fleeing Bahrain three years earlier.
Reuters