Gulf derby: Prestige, pride riding on PSG vs Man City clash today

PSG's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after winning the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg clash against FC Bayern Munich on April 13, 2021 

DOHA, AFP: The Champions League semi-final between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City today is as much a clash of footballing titans as a proxy battle between competing Gulf nations and visions for European football’s future.

It is the first encounter between Qatar-owned PSG and Emirati-backed Man City since the United Arab Emirates and a coalition of Saudi-led countries lifted their boycott of Doha, in place for three years.

The UAE along with Saudi, Egypt and Bahrain broke off ties with Qatar in June 2017 over claims it was too close to Iran and backed radical Islamist groups, which Qatar has always denied.

Families were divided, students expelled, businesses broken and religious pilgrimages denied when the spat erupted.

“Whilst the tie’s geopolitical temperature is less than it would have been if the boycott was still ongoing, there’s still a lot at stake,” said Simon Chadwick, professor of Eurasian Sport at EM Lyon University. Under Gulf ownership the two teams have been propelled into Europe’s elite, uncharted territory for both sides, with both nations accused by critics of seeking to “sport wash” their human rights records and attain respectability. “Financially, both countries have invested a huge amount of money into their clubs hence reaching the Champions League final will be seen as an important return on investment,” Chadwick added. “At the same time, there are considerable reputational and image benefits that will be associated with winning. And of course, Gulf bragging rights are at stake.

“The animosities may have somewhat dissipated, the battle to be the Gulf’s leading football nation remains.” While the visible effects of the boycott that included airspace and border closures and Qatari citizens unable to travel to rival nations have eased, ties remain chilly between Doha and Abu Dhabi.

The fixture will also serve as a proxy tussle between the clubs that backed a breakaway European Super League (ESL), including Manchester City, and those that didn’t, namely PSG.