Oman draw lots to pip Iraq into Gulf Cup semi-finals after Al-Shaqsy booking

Lots drawn as tie-breaker settles deadlocked group

Oman edged into the semi-finals of the Gulf Cup in extraordinary fashion after they were picked ahead of Iraq in a drawing of lots.

Oman's 3-1 win over Kuwait meant both the Omanis and Iraq finished level on four points in their group and, as they had identical records, lots were drawn to separate them and decide who would finish second and progress to the last four.

Organisers said the draw was the final tie-breaker after they had applied "the selection criteria stipulated in the regulations". These included "head-to-head results, goal difference, number of goals, and disciplinary card points" with Oman and Iraq level "until the final criterion was reached".

Al-Shaqsy's celebration proves costly

With yellow cards included in the count-back categories, Oman's Musab Al-Shaqsy would have been ruing the booking he picked up against Kuwait. After Al-Shaqsy scored his side's third goal late on in their win, he was yellow carded for taking his top off during his celebration.

And, with Oman and Iraq level on everything else, it meant both countries also finished even on the disciplinary front. That meant lots had to be drawn "in the presence of representatives of the concerned authorities" and, ultimately, Oman went through to the semi-finals.

Other famous drawing-of-lots moments

The episode is far from unique in football history. One of the most recent cases of a drawing of lots occurred at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015, when Guinea progressed to the quarter-finals at the expense of Mali after both had finished level in their group.

At the 1990 World Cup in Italy, the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland were tied in their group and, while both were guaranteed a place in the next round, lots were needed to determine who would qualify in second and who would qualify in third place. The draw resulted in Ireland being awarded second place and a game against Romania, while the Dutch ended up third and faced eventual winners West Germany.

In 1970, lots were required during the World Cup to determine who out of the Soviet Union and Mexico would be named group winners of Group One. The Soviet Union ended up being deemed group winners.

Although it had not been needed since 1994, the drawing of lots remained as the final tie-breaker until the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, after which it was replaced by where the teams stand in the latest Fifa world rankings, which are updated after every international match.