FIFA on Wednesday repeated an appeal to Thai authorities for the release to Australia of a former Bahrain national footballer held on an extradition request. Hakeem Alaraibi, who has refugee status in Australia, was stopped by Thai immigration on November 27 at Bahrain's request after arriving in Bangkok for a vacation with his wife.

A Thai court is due to rule next week on the request to extradite the 25-year-old who plays football for Pascoe Vale FC in Melbourne. FIFA, world football's governing body, who appealed for his release last week, said Wednesday the arrest should never have happened.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019