Al Ain Board dissolved over controversial BMW ad

By Mustafa Al Zarooni

Published: Wed 1 Jun 2016, 10:03 PM

Last updated: Thu 2 Jun 2016, 12:05 AM

Shaikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, in his capacity as the First Deputy to the President of Al Ain Sports Club, has dissolved the Board of Directors of both - Al Ain FC as well as their investment arm Al Ain Club Investment Company after the club's players had featured in a BMW television commercial which brought disrespect to the UAE National Anthem.
Shaikh Hazza made the two decisions on Wednesday after the video created a public outcry on social media platforms. Shaikh Hazaa also instructed to form an interim committee to take care of the two companies' affairs.
It is also learnt that the German auto manufacturer have pulled down the video.
The 20-second commercial, shot at their iconic Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in the Garden City of Al Ain, shows the Al Ain footballers singing the UAE National Anthem prior to a match but stop midway through on hearing the sounds of BMW engines. They then run out of the stadium as a baffled referee and the Al Ain fans look on. The footballers then get into the BMW cars parked outside the stadium.
The video provoked the anger of the Emiratis, who deemed it as "offending the UAE National Anthem."
The two decisions come out of keenness to bolster and beef up the role of the institutions in elevating the national values and symbols.
Shaikh Hazza stressed on his Twitter page that the national symbols are inseparable part of the national identity, and Al Ain Sports Club will remain a national flame and will keep its good work to serve the nation, its sports and urban march.