The Iran-backed Houthi (Ansarallah) militia’s kidnapping of national football team player Walid al-Hubaishi has sparked wide anger among Yemenis, al-Arabiya reported Tuesday (October 23rd).
"The Houthi militias have committed several violations aimed at destroying the sports infrastructure in Yemen," Yemen’s minister of youth and sports Nayef al-Bakry told the paper.
"The al-Hubaishi incident is not their first attempt, there have been numerous abuses committed by militias against individual athletes or sports facilities," he said.
Sports facilities have been used by the militias for weapon storage, and as camps to train their fighters, said al-Bakry.
He said that 70% of sports facilities in Yemen were partially or completely damaged because of the war launched by the Houthis on Yemeni cities.
Around 11 athletes have been killed by the Houthis, he said, adding that they have also arrested several athletes, some of whom had been released while others are still under detention.
"We condemn the arrest of players," he said, stressing that "sports are separate from politics".
