Khalid Salman

Khalid Salman Al-Muhannadi is a Qatari former footballer who represented the national team at the 1981 [FIFA World Youth Championship], and multiple Gulf Cup tournaments, as well as the 1984 Summer Olympics. He is regarded as part of Qatar’s “golden generation” of the 1980s and 1990s, alongside Mansour Muftah, Ibrahim Khalfan, Mahmoud Soufi, Adel Khamis, and others. Among his most notable performances was his hat-trick against Brazil at the 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship and also his display against France [Olympic football team|France] at the 1984 Olympics. He retired from international football in September 1998, featuring in a farewell match against Sudan under coach Luiz Gonzaga, which ended in a 1–1 draw.

Club career

Salman started playing for Al-Sadd's Youth Team in 1976 when he was fourteen and got promoted to the senior team in 1978, He used to watch Al Sadd's training sessions which developed his interest. He had also won the Youth league in the 1977–78 season. In the following 1978–79 season, he was promoted to the senior squad by coach Hassan Othman. He helped the club win countless trophies during his tenure. One of his most memorable moments was the free-kick goal in the Asian Club Championship 1988-89 final which gave Al-Sadd their first Asian title.

International career

Salman first represented the Qatar U–20 squad at the 1981 Youth World Cup. He was a key part in the team's progression to the final, scoring a hat-trick against Brazil U-20 scoring in the 10',54',87' minute. Earning Qatar U–20 a spot in the final.
Salman also represented the Qatar olympic team at the 1984 Summer Olympics, and scored a brace against France, which account for the only two goals Qatar scored during the tournament. He also played for the Qatar national football team at the Arabian Gulf Cup as well as the 1988 AFC Asian Cup finals, scoring a goal in the group stage.

Legacy

Salman was an influential player for both club and country, helping his club Al Sadd win numerous titles alongside teammates like Badr Bilal. To honour his playing career, his name was selected to be named for Aspire Zone Pitch 4 for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Honours

Club

Al-Sadd
* Qatari League : 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89
* Emir Cup : 1977–78, 1981–82, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1990–91, 1993–94
** Runners-up : 1982–83, 1986–87, 1992–93
* Sheikh Jassim Cup : 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1997
* Asian Club Championship : 1988–89
** Runners-up : 1992
* GCC Champions League : 1991

International

FIFA World Youth Championship runner-up : 1981

Post-retirement

Salman works as an analyst for various Gulf sports channels, frequently for Al-Kass, where he appears in the Al Majlis talk show.

Ambassador for 2022 FIFA World Cup

Salman was selected as one of the local ambassadors for 2022 FIFA World Cup and its legacy programmes.

Comments on homosexuality

During an interview with German television channel ZDF on 8 November 2022, Salman made comments about homosexuality, saying "during the World Cup, many things would come into the country. For example, let's talk about gays. The most important thing would be that everyone would accept that they come here. But they would have to accept our rules." Salman mentioned that he has problems with children seeing gay men. He argued that children would then learn something that would be not good. He said that being gay is "haram" or forbidden, and described homosexuality as a "damage in the mind". The interview was stopped by a World Cup organizing committee press officer. His comments led to massive criticism in Germany. However, Salman later stated that his comments were misinterpreted and that "damage in the mind" was in relation to alcohol and not homosexuality.