The Qatar Football Association is the governing body of football in Qatar

Qatar

Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...

.

Beginnings

The advent of football at Qatar dates back to the year of 1946, accompanied by the arrival of oil companies. The new game's popularity expanded immediately, which led to the establishment of Al Najah as the country’s first football club in 1950.

The athletic union

These ongoing efforts contributed to the formation of the first governing body in Qatari sport "the athletic union" headed by Sheikh Suhaim bin Hamad alongside Hitmi Al Hitmi, Majed bin Saad, and Khalifa Al Mutawah.

However, this committee lasted only for a few months, due to the

Arranging matches

Unlike nowadays, the organization of football lacked competence and experience. So matches were arranged by oral agreement or by simply writing a letter, conventionally, bringing a cup was the responsibility of the team that called for the match in the first place.

First football tournament

Under the supervision of Qatar Oil Company

Qatar Petroleum

Qatar Petroleum is a state owned petroleum company in Qatar. The company operates all oil and gas activities in Qatar, including exploration, production, refining, transport, and storage. QP's Chairman Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, is also the head of the Ministry of Energy and Industry and, as...

, the first football tournament ever in Qatar was held at the city of Dukhan

Dukhan

Dukhan is an industrial city located in western Qatar. It is located approximately 60 kilometers west of the capital, Doha. Dukhan is administrated by Qatar's state oil agency Qatar Petroleum and holds an important place in Qatar's oil industry...

. Despite the participation of several Doha

Doha

Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...

teams – including Al Najah – host team Dukhan managed to win the 1951 Izzadeen tournament.

Pukett Cup

Qatar Oil Company replaced the old competition with a new one, Pukett Cup kicked off during the 1957 season, Al Najah went on to win the cup for the first time in their history.

Transfer market

Whether locally or regionally, rules and regulations were not very restrictive about players moving from one club to another, just a resignation letter and 10 Indian rupees were required of the player who wished to move. This undemanding system was in effect until the year 1962.

Foreign players

Qatari clubs were booming with foreign players throughout the 1950s until the 1970s, players from Sudan, Egypt, Somalia, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and Ethiopia enriched Qatari football and played an enormous role in spreading the game among local fans.

Contracts were not signed to recruit foreign players; instead, they were employed in governmental administrations or private companies.

Formation

The Qatar Football Association was formed in 1970 to govern football in Qatar. The Association organized the first Qatar League in 1972-73.

External links

• Qatar Football Association at the FIFA website.
• Qatar Football Association at AFC site
• Official website Arabic/English
• Qatar Football: article