Buddy Farah
Encyclopedia
Buddy Farah is an Australian soccer agent and a former footballer of Lebanese
descent. After beginning his career with Marconi Stallions
in the Australian National Soccer League, he went on to play for Nejmeh in the Lebanese Premier League
and Keflavík
in the Iceland Úrvalsdeild before retiring in 2008. Farah represented the Australia Under-23 team prior to the 2000 Sydney Olympics and Lebanon
from 2000 to 2004.
where he joined the club's first-team in 1997. In 2001 he was transferred to fellow NSL
side Wollongong Wolves
where he would stay until 2003. At the end of the 2002-2003 season Wollongong had offered to renew Farah's contract, however, it was declined due to the low wage which was worth one-third of his previous contract. On 28 August 2003, Farah signed a two-year contract with Lebanese Premier League
club Nejmeh; the contract was worth at least six times what he would have been receiving if he had stayed at Wollongong; the contract was worth an estimated $220,000 (€170,000). Farah was the first Christian to be signed by the Muslim
club, where he had established himself in the club's first-team while playing for Lebanon. Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal
offered a fee of $1,000,000 (€770,000) to pry him away from Nejmeh, but the club president, Rafic Hariri, who at the time was Lebanon's Prime Minister, declined the offer. While at the club, Nejmeh reached the quarter-finals of the 2004 AFC Cup and played in the qualifying rounds of the 2004 AFC Champions League. In 2004 Farah sued Nejmeh over a pay dispute and alleged breach of contract. The club neglected Farah while he suffered a serious liver infection, which evolved into a near-death experience. Farah had been sent to hospital in early 2004, having been diagnosed with Hepatitis A
, after eating contaminated seafood. He was treated in enough time to escape liver surgery. He then left Beirut
for further treatment in Sydney, on the condition he'd return to Nejmeh after an agreed six-week period. During that time, Farah claimed that Nejmeh did not honour it's financial commitments, as Farah refused to return to Lebanon
due to the financial issue. Farah then pressed legal charges to Nejmeh's board of directions where his legal team were arguing that Farah had been robbed of income from representing Lebanon; the case's resolution was in the hands of a court in Lebanon. After returning from Lebanon to Australia in 2004 where he joined Marconi Stallions, he was ineligible to play for six months due to a dis-clearance from FIFA
. Farah joined Bankstown City Lions
before transferring to Malaysian side Selangor FA
. He then signed terms with Iceland's Keflavík ÍF where the club had finished fourth in the Iceland Úrvalsdeild. Farah joined A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers
for the 2007 New South Wales Premier League
season before retiring in 2008.
, Farah had featured in 10 games for the Australian Under-23 squad prior to the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Blanco selected his squad for the tournament leaving out Farah. Farah saw that his chance of fame had been gone due to the selection. In 2000, Farah took up the opportunity to represent Lebanon, becoming the second Australian born player to do so after Michael Reda
in 2000, where he would take part in the qualifying campaign for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Farah's moment of glory came in September 2003 when he scored in a 1-0 victory against North Korea
in Pyongyang
during a 2004 Asian Cup qualifying match.
He would take part in the qualifying campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
before retiring from international football in 2004. In January 2006, Lebanon and Australia were both drawn in the same group for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers
, within hours from the draw's finalisation Farah had conacted the Lebanese F.A and was told that he would be "welcomed back with open arms". The draw of Australia and Lebanon made Farah contemplate returning to an overseas club to increase his chances of playing international football.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
descent. After beginning his career with Marconi Stallions
Marconi Stallions
The Marconi Stallions Football Club is an Australian football club located in Sydney, Australia. The club won the National Soccer League title a record four times, along with South Melbourne FC and Sydney City SC...
in the Australian National Soccer League, he went on to play for Nejmeh in the Lebanese Premier League
Lebanese Premier League
Lebanese Premier League is the top division of the Federation Libanaise de Football Association football league competitions. It was founded in 1900 and began in 1934 and their confederation is the AFC...
and Keflavík
Keflavík Football Club
Keflavík Football Club is an Icelandic football team, commonly known as Keflavík. It is a subdivision of Keflavík ÍF , based in the town of Reykjanesbær in Iceland. They play at Nettó-völlur in Keflavík.-Competition history:Keflavík have played in the Icelandic football league since 1956...
in the Iceland Úrvalsdeild before retiring in 2008. Farah represented the Australia Under-23 team prior to the 2000 Sydney Olympics and Lebanon
Lebanon national football team
The Lebanon national football team represents the Republic of Lebanon in international association football. Their official nickname is The Cedars...
from 2000 to 2004.
Club career
Farah played youth football for Australian National Soccer League club Marconi StallionsMarconi Stallions
The Marconi Stallions Football Club is an Australian football club located in Sydney, Australia. The club won the National Soccer League title a record four times, along with South Melbourne FC and Sydney City SC...
where he joined the club's first-team in 1997. In 2001 he was transferred to fellow NSL
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
side Wollongong Wolves
Wollongong Wolves
The South Coast Wolves Football Club is an Australian Association football club based in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia currently playing in the NSW Premier League.The club was formed in 2009 as a not for profit organisation, run and owned by the community since the financial...
where he would stay until 2003. At the end of the 2002-2003 season Wollongong had offered to renew Farah's contract, however, it was declined due to the low wage which was worth one-third of his previous contract. On 28 August 2003, Farah signed a two-year contract with Lebanese Premier League
Lebanese Premier League
Lebanese Premier League is the top division of the Federation Libanaise de Football Association football league competitions. It was founded in 1900 and began in 1934 and their confederation is the AFC...
club Nejmeh; the contract was worth at least six times what he would have been receiving if he had stayed at Wollongong; the contract was worth an estimated $220,000 (€170,000). Farah was the first Christian to be signed by the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
club, where he had established himself in the club's first-team while playing for Lebanon. Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal
Al Hilal
Al Hilal may refer to:*Al-Hilal , a weekly Urdu language newspaper established by the Indian leader Maulana Abul Kalam AzadIn football:*Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabian football club*Al-Hilal , Libyan football club...
offered a fee of $1,000,000 (€770,000) to pry him away from Nejmeh, but the club president, Rafic Hariri, who at the time was Lebanon's Prime Minister, declined the offer. While at the club, Nejmeh reached the quarter-finals of the 2004 AFC Cup and played in the qualifying rounds of the 2004 AFC Champions League. In 2004 Farah sued Nejmeh over a pay dispute and alleged breach of contract. The club neglected Farah while he suffered a serious liver infection, which evolved into a near-death experience. Farah had been sent to hospital in early 2004, having been diagnosed with Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is an acute infectious disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus , an RNA virus, usually spread the fecal-oral route; transmitted person-to-person by ingestion of contaminated food or water or through direct contact with an infectious person...
, after eating contaminated seafood. He was treated in enough time to escape liver surgery. He then left Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
for further treatment in Sydney, on the condition he'd return to Nejmeh after an agreed six-week period. During that time, Farah claimed that Nejmeh did not honour it's financial commitments, as Farah refused to return to Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
due to the financial issue. Farah then pressed legal charges to Nejmeh's board of directions where his legal team were arguing that Farah had been robbed of income from representing Lebanon; the case's resolution was in the hands of a court in Lebanon. After returning from Lebanon to Australia in 2004 where he joined Marconi Stallions, he was ineligible to play for six months due to a dis-clearance from FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
. Farah joined Bankstown City Lions
Bankstown City Lions
Bankstown City Lions is an Australian football club from the Sydney suburb of Sefton in New South Wales, Australia...
before transferring to Malaysian side Selangor FA
Selangor FA
The Football Association of Selangor , commonly referred to as FAS or simply Selangor, competes in Malaysian football competitions representing the state of Selangor Darul Ehsan. The team is based in Shah Alam city. They are currently playing in Malaysian Super League, the top-flight of Malaysian...
. He then signed terms with Iceland's Keflavík ÍF where the club had finished fourth in the Iceland Úrvalsdeild. Farah joined A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers
A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers
APIA Leichhardt Tigers Football Club, also known as APIA Tigers and Sydney Tigers, is an Australian football club based in Sydney, Australia. The club was formed in 1954, known as APIA Leichhardt, by Italian Australians...
for the 2007 New South Wales Premier League
New South Wales Premier League
The New South Wales Premier League is the highest state-level men's soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. Nationally, it is considered one grade lower than the A-League...
season before retiring in 2008.
International career
Under coach Raul BlancoRaul Blanco
Raul Blanco is an Argentine-born Australia Association football coach. He is well known for coaching the Socceroos from March 1998 to June 1999. He was also coaching the Olyroos at the same time, and coached them during the 2000 Summer Olympics...
, Farah had featured in 10 games for the Australian Under-23 squad prior to the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Blanco selected his squad for the tournament leaving out Farah. Farah saw that his chance of fame had been gone due to the selection. In 2000, Farah took up the opportunity to represent Lebanon, becoming the second Australian born player to do so after Michael Reda
Michael Reda
Michael Carl Reda is a former Australian born-Lebanese footballer.-International career:He has played for Lebanon internationally, most notably making appearance for Lebanon at the 2000 Asian Nations Cup. He played for the School Sport Australia Football team in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei in...
in 2000, where he would take part in the qualifying campaign for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Farah's moment of glory came in September 2003 when he scored in a 1-0 victory against North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
in Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
during a 2004 Asian Cup qualifying match.
"I was always passionate about playing for Australia, but when the time came he (Blanco) always picked someone else," "It was a bit disappointing, but I guess it wasn't to be. Now I'm playing for Lebanon, I basically get picked for every game, and I'm playing for a club side which gets 40,000 to 50,000 people every game. It's been an incredible ride, I haven't had time to scratch myself. It was huge, scoring my first international goal," What made it even better was the way we had been treated before the game. They put us in a dump of a hotel, we had to cook our own food for a week, and our training field had goats and sheep on it. The experience bonded us together, and when we went out and beat them, well, let's just say we enjoyed it." - Farah on playing for Lebanon
He would take part in the qualifying campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
before retiring from international football in 2004. In January 2006, Lebanon and Australia were both drawn in the same group for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers
2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
The 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification was held in late 2005 and the final qualification round was held from February to November 2006 with 25 nations participating....
, within hours from the draw's finalisation Farah had conacted the Lebanese F.A and was told that he would be "welcomed back with open arms". The draw of Australia and Lebanon made Farah contemplate returning to an overseas club to increase his chances of playing international football.