A sports source reported on November 16, 2024, that the Houthi movement, designated as a terrorist organization internationally, has barred candidates and several members of the General Assembly of the Yemeni Football Union from traveling through Sana'a International Airport. This comes just days before the elections for the union's board of directors, set to take place in Doha, Qatar.

The source, speaking to "Barran Press," stated that the Ministry of Youth and Sports under the unrecognized Houthi government issued a directive to the leadership of the Ministry of Interior to prevent members of the football union's General Assembly, referees, and coaches from leaving the country.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports reportedly attached a list of names of those banned from traveling, noting that airport authorities controlled by the Houthis turned back several candidates for the Yemeni Football Union elections.

According to the source, airport authorities handed over the confiscated passports to the Houthi-run Ministry of Sports, which refused to return them to their owners, preventing their participation in the upcoming elections.

The source expressed concern that ongoing political disputes negatively impact Yemeni sports, which he described as the real loser in these irresponsible actions that "do not serve sports or athletes."

Earlier today, the General Secretariat of the Yemeni Football Union announced the final list of candidates for the board elections scheduled for November 30 in Doha. The list includes Sheikh Ahmed Saleh Al-Eisi as the sole candidate for the presidency, making him the likely president for the new term. Meanwhile, Hassan Mohammed Bashanfar and Talal Saleh Bin Haidara are competing for the first vice presidency, with five candidates vying for the second vice presidency and 18 others for board membership.