By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI
MANAMA
MANAMA: MPs blew the whistle yesterday on a BD2.1 million incentive deal for Bahrain's national soccer players. It would have given each player BD50,000, a new car, a government house and a BD1,000 monthly salary leading up to and during the world championship.
Jobs would also have been offered to players or their family members under the proposal, put by five MPs, led by Yousif Al Hermi.
But MPs literally laughed it out of play at yesterday's weekly parliamentary session.
"What would those supporting us (Bahrain) financially say if they hear about this proposal?" said chairman Khalifa Al Dhahrani.
Mr Al Hermi said it was not a joke, since Bahrain was playing against the world's best.
"Passing this proposal would raise the spirit of our players as they face Trinidad and Tobago next month," he said.
"The money isn't that much if we consider what other teams are spending."
MPs voted to refer the proposal to the services committee, but it is not expected to re-emerge.
The MPs later issued a statement backing the team and urging the government to provide moral and financial support.
Comment: I guess, contrary to Mr. Nahkid, these folks were trying to bribe their players 
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