Al Attiyah barred from Abu Dhabi Rally
DOHA: The organisers of Abu Dhabi Rally have stopped Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah, Vice-President of Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA: International Automobile Federation) from participating in the opening ceremony of the event for security reasons. Al Attiyah immediately returned to Doha on Friday, Al Sharq reported.
Traditionally, the President of FIA, with the vice-president flag off the event but the absence of Al Attiyah took the audience and journalists at the opening of Abu Dhabi Rally by surprise.
According to Hani Shaban, an international observer at the Abu Dhabi rally, Al Attiyah was informed not to attend the opening ceremony for security reasons. “What security problems can rise at a sports event? This justification cannot be accepted. If there is a security lapse how the rally is held?,” Shaban said.
Al Attiyah’s appointment with a sports TV channel in Abu Dhabi for a live interview was also cancelled, said the daily.
Al Attiyah was informed about cancellation of the appointment only when he arrived at the TV channel for the interview, said the report.
The Peninsula
