FIFA Supports Bahraini Football Player Detained at Suvarnabhumi

In this Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, image from video, Hakeem Ali Mohamed Ali AlAraib speaks at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand. Photo: SBS via AP
In this Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, image from video, Hakeem Ali Mohamed Ali AlAraib speaks at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand. Photo: SBS via AP

Update: Bahraini Football Player Moved to Jail Before Extradition Hearing (Video)

ZURICH — FIFA says it wants a soccer player who has refugee status in Australia to return to the country “at the earliest possible moment” rather than be extradited from Thailand to Bahrain.

Former Bahrain international Hakeem AlAraibi was detained at Bangkok airport last week. An Interpol warrant for his arrest was issued in apparent violation of rules protecting refugees.

Read: BKK Departure of Bahraini Refugee Footballer Blocked

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World soccer’s ruling body FIFA says it now expects his case “to be solved in accordance with well-established international standards,” and has asked Australian soccer officials to urgently “take the matter up with their government.”

Australian authorities said last week that embassy officials in Bangkok were working on the case.

Rights activists say AlAraibi was tortured after being arrested in 2012. He fled to Australia which gave him political asylum.