The Spanish Supercopa, hosted by Saudi Arabia in January, is just one of dozens of major sporting events now held in the Gulf Credit: Fadel SENNA / AFP

Around 80,000 fans were hoping to see Lionel Messi take on Lamine Yamal in Doha, while thousands more were gearing up for the F1 grands prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, but the war in the Middle East had other plans. 

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