UAE footballers jailed over abusive film

An Abu Dhabi court sentenced two local football players to three months in prison after he was found guilty of publishing a film offending a sport personality.

The court acquitted their friend, a website holder, of charges of using the site to abuse others and ordered the immediate removal of the film.

The court found that the film contained insults and obscene words against that personality after it went viral and triggered angry reactions from viewers on the grounds it violated social and ethical values in the UAE.

The verdict against the two was in line with UAE laws against electronic crimes, punishing offenders with prison terms and heavy fines.