he ruler of Dubai has awarded 5.5 million dollars to Iraq's national football team for its victory in the Asian Cup final, a football official said on Tuesday.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum gave the money to the Iraqi team for their 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Jakarta on Sunday, the head of Dubai's Al Ahli soccer club told AFP.
Members of the victorious Iraqi team were invited to a celebration organised by Sheikh Mohammed at Al Ahli's pitch.
Sheikh Mohammed, who is better known for his huge thoroughbred racehorse empire including the Godolphin Operation, said the victorious team showed "the ability of the Iraqi people...to deal with hardship and presented an example of how to give for the sake of the nation."
The wealthy Gulf Arab emirate of Dubai is one of seven that makes up the United Arab Emirates.
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