Capello, Guardiola are not heading this way, insists Qatar FA

DOHA: Qatar’s football association has denied reports that Fabio Capello and Pep Guardiola will be heading to the Middle East to join a supervisory board overseeing the national team set-up.
The Gulf state host Bahrain in a World Cup qualifiers in Doha tomorrow/Tuesday. Victory will confirm their place in the last phase of the Asian preliminaries with a first-ever appearance in the finals beckoning beyond that.
This progress, following the Asian Champions League triumph of Al Sadd, had prompted local reports about approaches to some of the world’s top coaches to join a newly-created Technical Advisory Committee to the National Teams.
Now a statement has been issued which seeks to dismiss suggestions that
England’s Italian coach and the all-conquering Barcelona boss may be among them.
A statement read: “The proposition to form a Technical Advisory body to the National Teams committee . . . comes as part of the football development initiatives the QFA planning to introduce to enhance the Qatari football position regionally and worldwide.
“The mandate, structure and competences of this Advisory Body have been put in blueprint to ensure our teams obtain an utmost benefit. Details on the same will be published once finalized and approved.
“Certain distinguished coaching names, such as the Spanish Pep Guardiola and the Italian Fabio Capello, have been reported being named as members of the Advisory Body.
“Whilst QFA fully recognize and respect the standing and the wealth of football experience these two names enjoy in the world of football, it must be cleared that all the reported stories in this regard are pure media speculations and lack the truth.”
The Qatari media was urged “to act more cautiously in reporting information that is not sourced through credible sources and is not endorsed by the officials of QFA or its concerned department.”
Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, in Qatar attending the Aspire4Sport conference, said that Gaurdiola had been offered a contract extension by the club and “on the table whenever he is ready.”