UAE follow Bahrain in withdraw from handball worlds in Qatar

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The United Arab Emirates have pulled out of the handball world championships in Qatar in January, the ruling body IHF said on Monday, three days after Bahrain also withdrew. No reasons were given by the IHF but Qatar is said to have a tense political relationship with its neighbours UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. "The Handball Federation of the United Arab Emirates has informed the International Handball Federation that they withdraw their national team from participation in the Men's Handball World Championship," the IHF said. "Just like in the case of Bahrain, the case will be handled by the Council of the International Handball Federation in its next meeting scheduled for 21 November 2015, when a corresponding decision regarding this matter will be made and announced." Bahrain and UAE could face sanctions from the IHF, which is also expected to announce on that day the teams to take their place in the 24-nation world championships set for January 15-31, 2015. UAE were drawn into group C along with France, Sweden, Czech Republic, Algeria and Egypt. Bahrain were in Group D with Argentina, Denmark, Germany, Poland and Russia.