Liverpool and Scotland legend Graeme Souness has revealed he is currently trapped in Abu Dhabi. Amid the unfolding aggression between Iran and the United States, plus Israel, a number of nations in the Gulf have also been impacted by the military attacks.
Indeed, United Arab Emirates states Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait, have been targeted as violence escalates. The attacks already look set to have a huge impact on the football world.
After all, Iran are set to go to the World Cup and play at least three games in the United States this summer. However, the president of the Iranian Football Federation has now claimed that it's 'unlikely' that the nation attends the tournament.
Retired footballer and Souness is also among those to have been caught in the chaos sparked by recent events.
Souness Reveals "Loud Bangs" As He's Held in Abu Dhabi Airport
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Souness, who was last in the UAE as recently as three weeks ago in his capacity as a Liverpool ambassador, was among them, with the 72-year-old faced with lengthy delays as he waited at Abu Dhabi airport. He took to social media to provide a number of updates on his states, first saying (via Daily Mail):
"Currently in the Middle East, in Abu Dhabi Airport, I'll give you a quick glimpse of where I am. That is my plane. That I am meant to be catching to go back to the UK.
"My mum said to me - bear with me - when I was a little boy, 'wherever you are, there's never a dull moment.'
"So I was thinking this weekend, the biggest game of the season for me, Rangers-Celtic, a game that if Rangers win, that'll put the cat among the pigeons in a big way.
"My mum said, 'wherever you are son, there's never a dull moment', well, I'm at this airport, and we're hearing some pretty loud bangs going off, and that is anti-missiles taking out missiles that are being fired at some American base."
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In a second video, speaking from a terminal, he then revealed that his flight had been cancelled. However, he spoke about keeping things in perspective, instead of getting too 'grumpy', explaining:
"Chaos continues. The flight's been cancelled, still hearing explosives, so we give up.
"We're just going to check into a hotel for a couple of nights and see where we are. Hopefully, this will settle down and we'll get back on our flight.
"You get grumpy - well I do - when you get delayed and stuff at airports but I think we should think of people that maybe at this point might die. Anyway, I'll keep you posted."
At the time of writing, Souness has not added to his Instagram story in the past 14 hours.
As per Sky News, One person has died and seven have been injured after an "incident" at Abu Dhabi's Zayed airport – where Souness was located – while four were also hurt at Dubai International, reportedly due to an overnight Iranian attack. There was also a minor fire on the facade of the city's iconic sail-shaped Burj al Arab hotel due to a drone interception.
Reports also state that US bases in the region have been targeted, but there have been civilian targets too, including the Palm Jumeirah Fairmont Hotel in Dubai, Kuwait International Airport, and residential buildings in Bahrain.
One five-star hotel was hit and set ablaze to the front of the building's exterior by an ultra-fast Shahed drone. Four people are said to have been injured in the attack, according to the Dubai media office, with witnesses stating ambulances had rushed to the scene.
Souness isn't the only football pundit to have been impacted by the attacks either, with BeIN Sport presenter Richard Keys forced off the air. Having worked in the Gulf state since 2013, he shared an angry message on social media, saying:
"Thank you all for your messages. It was a bit lively earlier. I don’t have space to express my feelings about that idiot Trump. No show today.
"You’ll be in the capable hands of our colleagues in London. Thoughts & prayers for everyone in our region. Ramadan Kareem."