The Italian Football Confederation agreed to play a showpiece match in Saudi Arabia, which provoked Tamim bin Hamad’s regime.

The staging of the Italian Super Cup in Jeddah next Wednesday has embroiled game organizer Serie A in the Saudi-led economic boycott of Qatar that has been in place for 19 months.

With beIN holding the Middle East rights to most major sporting events, viewers across the region are reliant on paying for subscriptions for Doha-originated telecasts. That has led to the network becoming a proxy in the regional diplomatic standoff stemming from accusations that the super-rich state supports militant groups.

Tickets for the game between Juventus and AC Milan at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium sold out in less than two days.

Qatar has also faced criticism over working conditions and rights for migrant workers in the buildup to its hosting of the World Cup in 2022.