A'ala Hubail Explained

A'ala Hubail
Fullname:A'ala Ahmed Mohamed Hubail
Birth Date:25 June 1982
Birth Place:Sitra, Bahrain
Height:1.70 m
Position:Striker
Youthyears1:1998–2002
Youthclubs1:Al-Ahli
Years1:2002–2005
Clubs1:Al-Ahli
Caps1:26
Goals1:7
Years2:2005–2007
Clubs2:Al-Gharrafa
Caps2:63
Goals2:33
Years3:2007–2008
Clubs3:Kuwait
Caps3:15
Goals3:6
Years4:2008–2009
Clubs4:Umm-Salal
Caps4:24
Goals4:9
Years5:2009–2011
Clubs5:Al-Ahli
Caps5:3
Goals5:1
Years6:2011–2012
Clubs6:Al-Taliya
Caps6:20
Goals6:7
Years7:2012–2013
Clubs7:Nejmeh
Caps7:18
Goals7:5
Years8:2013–2014
Clubs8:Sitra
Goals8:1
Years9:2014–2017
Clubs9:Manama Club
Goals9:4
Years10:2017
Clubs10:Al Hala
Totalcaps:169+
Totalgoals:73
Nationalyears1:2003–2009
Nationalteam1:Bahrain
Nationalcaps1:74
Nationalgoals1:26

A'ala Ahmed Mohamed Hubail (Arabic: علاء أحمد محمد حبيل; born 25 June 1982) is a Bahraini former professional footballer who played as a striker. With the Bahrain national team.

2011 detention

On 5 April 2011 A'ala Hubail and his brother Mohamed (also a member of the national football team) were arrested by the Bahraini authorities and held in custody on an indefinite basis. A'ala Hubail, a trained paramedic, had attended demonstrations during the 2011 Bahraini protests and had reportedly helped provide medical assistance. The day before his arrest A'ala Hubail had appeared on a chatshow programme on Bahrain state television in which he had been aggressively questioned and criticised.[1] Al-Ahli announced that the brothers had been dismissed from the club squad.[2]

It was reported that he had received treatment in a military hospital after being tortured and that he may have suffered an injury to one of his feet.[3]

On 23 June it was announced that Mohamed Hubail had been secretly tried and sentenced to two years in prison by the Bahraini special security court established under the martial law regime imposed in March 2011.[4] A'ala Hubail's trial was reported to have begun in secret on 24 June 2011.

On 24 June FIFA, the world football governing body, announced that it had asked the Bahraini football authorities to provide information about cases of players detained during political protests. Following allegations of government interference in the sport after Mohammed Hubail's prison sentence and A'ala Hubail's trial and the suspension of over 150 athletes, coaches and referees for taking part in anti-government protests, Bahrain could face a ban from world soccer. Suspension by FIFA could prevent Bahrain participating in Asian Olympic Games qualifying round matches (due in September 2011). According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, the Bahraini trials appeared to bear the marks of political persecution and there were serious concerns that the due process rights of the defendants were not respected.[5]

On 29 June 2011 the Bahrain News Agency reported that the Bahrain Defence Force military public prosecutor had announced that "defendants involved at medical and sport crimes" had been released, but trials would continue in accordance with Bahraini legal procedures.[6]

Career statistics

International

Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
12 December 2003 2-2 Draw Friendly
18 February 2004 2-1 Won 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
18 February 2004 2-1 Won 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 June 2004 5-0 Won 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 June 2004 5-0 Won 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 June 2004 5-0 Won 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
25 July 2004 3-1 Won 2004 AFC Asian Cup
30 July 2004 2-2 Draw 2004 AFC Asian Cup
30 July 2004 2-2 Draw 2004 AFC Asian Cup
3 August 2004 3-4 Lost 2004 AFC Asian Cup
3 August 2004 3-4 Lost 2004 AFC Asian Cup
23 December 2004 3-1 Won 17th Arabian Gulf Cup
8 November 2006 1-1 Draw Friendly
24 January 2007 2-1 Won 18th Arabian Gulf Cup
24 January 2007 2-1 Won 18th Arabian Gulf Cup
30 June 2007 3-5 Lost Friendly
21 October 2007 4-1 Won 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 February 2008 1-0 Won 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
26 March 2008 1-0 Won 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification

Notes and References

  1. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/apr/22/bahrain-counter-revolution-televised-athletes "In Bahrain, first, they came for the athletes" by Tahiyya Lulu at guardian.co.uk, 22 April 2011
  2. http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=303347 "Top sportsmen sacked for taking part in rallies", Gulf Daily News, 7 April 2011
  3. http://ar.azadnegar.com/article/%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%AD%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B4%D9%81%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%B1%D9%89 Azadnegar.com website, 10 April 2011
  4. https://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6696991/bahrain-player-mohammed-hubail-jailed-protesting-government "Bahrain player sentenced for protesting", ESPN (Sourced by the AP, 23 June 2011
  5. https://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6700339/fifa-wants-details-detained-bahrain-players "FIFA wants info on Bahrain arrests", Associated Press report at ESPN Soccer website
  6. http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/462877 "Announcement by the military prosecuter[sic]", Bahrain News Agency website, 29 June 2011