Fadi Khatib during one of his last appearances for the Lebanese national basketball team. (Credit: FIBA)
"I wish that Lebanon could be lent to the UAE for ten years so that they can lead and reform the country in order to return it with healthy structures and a suitable leader. This is what I hope for Lebanon." These words by Fadi Khatib, said during an interview given to a podcast called "The Insight Track with Luca Allam," a British entrepreneur, and published on his YouTube channel on Friday, did not go unnoticed by Lebanese Internet users.
While being questioned about his image as an icon in Lebanon and the reasons for his participation in the thawra in October 2019, the former captain of the national basketball team spoke at length about the political situation in the country. After denouncing the "corruption" of the system and the influence of religious parties in basketball, he also gave his opinion on what a desirable future could be for Lebanon.
"The question is not what I can bring to Lebanon. The country needs more because as soon as someone tries to do something good for the country, there is a whole group of people who will drag you down," he said about the multiple offers he has received to become sports minister.
“I wish that Lebanon could be given or rented to the United Arab Emirates for ten years so that they can lead and reform the country in order to make it with healthy structures and a suitable leader. Like when an entrepreneur goes to a financial institution because his company has gone bankrupt to ask them to restructure everything. To do this, I would definitely choose the Emirati leaders because they have established one of the best countries in the world,” he added
'New occupation'
Isolated and then published on social media, this excerpt has provoked a plethora of reactions. Many Internet users have thus denounced the fact that the former Sagesse player, with whom he won seven Lebanese championship titles in a row and two Asian Cups, is essentially proposing a new “occupation” or a new “mandate” over Lebanon to a foreign power.
“At a time when everyone hopes that Lebanon will become truly independent, Fadi Khatib is proposing a brilliant solution by calling once again to occupy Lebanon,” wrote one user on X. “It’s the same speech as those who said they wanted a return of the French mandate,” commented another, in reference to the petition that was launched after the double explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020.
Others also accused the "Emirati leaders" they want to see "take over" in Lebanon of being "allies of Israel," with which Lebanon is on the brink of war in a context of renewed regional tensions, and that the basketball player makes this kind of remarks while being "comfortably installed in Dubai."
The native of Shhim in Chouf has permanently settled in the United Arab Emirates since 2020, notably after being injured during a demonstration during the thawra.
"I love Beirut to death, but they pushed us out," he said in this same interview, the extract in question of which was removed from the replay viewable on YouTube. Khatib did not respond to requests for comment.
Officially retired from professional basketball since May 2023, at the age of 43, after an aborted return to Sagesse, Khatib won eleven Lebanese championship titles with three different clubs, Sagesse, Riyadi and Homenetmen. He also has three participations in the Basketball World Cup with the Lebanese national team, of which he was the most emblematic captain. He launched several businesses in Lebanon and abroad alongside his career, including a sports academy called Champs, one of the establishments of which is located in Hazmieh, near Beirut.
This article originally appeared in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.
