This week Spanish football legend Xavi Hernandez said farewell to the game as a player, ending his first chapter with Qatar's Al-Sadd.
With football seasons in the Middle East coming to a close, there have been some unpredictable ends to league battles.
Flamenco in Qatar: This week in Middle East football
Qatar has announced that Felix Sanchez will extend his contract until the 2022 World Cup in the country.
Spain in Saudi: This week in Middle East football
Troubles are afoot in one of Saudi Arabia's establishment clubs, Al-Hilal, while Spain's Super Cup could be heading to the kingdom.
Footballers join Sudan's anti-Bashir protests
Sudanese football players are supporting the tens of thousands of protesters confronting the regime's security forces.
Lebanese football team refuses to play in Palestine
Lebanon's Nejmeh refused to enter the occupied West Bank, forfeiting its match to Hilal al-Quds, as derbies played out across the region.
War-torn Libya misses out on Africa Cup place
Burundi, Tanzania, Namibia and Kenya will all take to the AFCON field, while Israel and Turkey both got their Euro 2020 campaigns off to a ...
New Zealand Futsal community mourns Christchurch murder of keeper
The Middle East has turned this week to New Zealand, where a horrific terror attack in a mosque took the lives of 50 people.
AFC clash shows Palestine's footballing development
No AFC Cup match had ever been played in the occupied Palestinian territories, until Jordanian champions Al-Wehdat this week took on Palestine's ...
Even Algerian football fans protested against Bouteflika
Across Algeria, fans showed the football community cannot remain indifferent to politics and social events, chanting against Bouteflika's ...
Zarif resignation: Another demonstration of Iranian footballers' political power?
Javad Zarif came under attack earlier this month, after Esteghlal Tehran's right-back and Iranian national team defender Voria Ghafouri took to ...
Iranian rivalry erupts: This week in Middle East football
As many as 100,000 fans crowded into the Tabriz stadium to enjoy one of the biggest derbies of Iran's league, reports Uri Levy.
Palestinian champions book their place in AFC Cup
Al-Hilal, Jerusalem's Lions, now face opposition from Syrian, Lebanese and Jordanian giants.
Final whistle blows for Asian Cup 2019
Asian Cup 2019: Qatar, the unlikely victors, have proven all critics wrong and paved the path to the 2022 World Cup.
Asian Cup 2019: Qatar delivers humiliating blow to UAE
'Football's Gulf War', 'The Blockade Derby,' you name it, Qatar won it, thrashing the UAE 4-0 in the Arab Derby in Abu Dhabi to reach the Asian ...
Asian Cup 2019: Iran bow out after Japan thrashing
The Blue Samurais will face the winner of the Arab Derby in Abu Dhabi in the 2019 Asian Cup final.
Asian Cup 2019: Qatar v UAE preview
Both teams have surprised many in reaching this stage of the tournament.
Asian Cup 2019: Iran's giants topple Chinese wall
Team Melli smashed through China's defences to claim their place in the Asian Cup 2019 semi-finals with a decisive 3-0 win.
Asian Cup 2019: Qatar through to quarter-finals
Qatar beats Iraq 1-0 to make it through to the quarter-finals while Bahrain loses to South Korea sending them home.
Asian Cup 2019: UAE advances to quarter-finals
Host nation UAE advance to the quarter-finals after beating Kyrgyzstan, while Saudi Arabia heads home after losing to Japan.
Asian Cup 2019: Iran see off Oman
Iran will now face China in the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup 2019.
Asian Cup 2019: Qatar victorious in Gulf blockade derby
A 2-0 win against Saudi Arabia put Qatar to the top of the qualifying group.
Asia Cup 2019: Iran and Iraq in goalless stalemate
The energy on display between the old rivals showed Asia's real football is played in Mesopotamia and Persia.
Asian Cup 2019: Palestine attack Jordan in waves
Syria drops out of the tournament, and Palestine are left clinging on, waiting on today's results.
The 6-0 victory over North Korea seals Qatar's place in the next round of the tournament.
The Asian Cup group stage is advancing, with a day with plenty of Middle Eastern football action.
Australia makes a dominating comeback after Jordan loss with a 3-0 win over Palestine.
Iraq meets Vietnam and Saudi Arabia plays North Korea in their debut games for the Asian Cup.
Jordan pulled off a historic win against Australia in the Asian Cup on Sunday.