Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has reportedly been stranded in Qatar for more than a week as escalating conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt regional air travel.
According to reports, Al-Khelaifi has been unable to leave Doha as commercial flights in and out of the region remain heavily affected by the ongoing war involving Iran, which intensified following U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28.
The disruption has complicated the PSG chief’s plans to return to Paris ahead of the club’s crucial UEFA Champions League round-of-16 clash against Chelsea.
A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that Al-Khelaifi has been trying to secure a flight back to France, with efforts focused on finding a seat on a commercial flight departing Doha late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
The source spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Travel across the Middle East has been severely disrupted by the conflict, with airspace closures forcing airlines to cancel services or reroute flights on longer paths.
Major Gulf airports, which serve as key international hubs connecting Europe, Africa and Asia, have been among the most affected.
The ripple effects have left thousands of travelers stranded as retaliatory strikes across the Gulf region created uncertainty in aviation schedules.
Limited seat availability has also meant that many passengers must wait until just before departure to confirm whether they can board a flight.
Despite the disruption, there are early signs that normal operations are gradually returning.
Authorities in the United Kingdom reported that flight activity from the United Arab Emirates to Britain is beginning to stabilize.
Officials noted that dozens of commercial flights from Dubai to the UK operated earlier this week, with more scheduled as travel conditions improve.
Meanwhile, the situation comes at a critical moment for PSG as they prepare to defend their European crown.
The French champions are set to host Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie at Parc des Princes, with the return fixture scheduled to take place in London next week.
As kickoff approaches, PSG will hope their president can rejoin the club in Paris while the team focuses on securing an advantage in the high-stakes European showdown.
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