Qatar sports academy buys 2nd-tier Belgian club

Published Jun. 6, 2012 1:34 p.m. ET

foxsports

A government-funded sports academy in Qatar has bought a controlling stake in a Belgian second-division club and plans to send some of its own players there to gain professional experience.

The Aspire Zone Foundation says it has bought KAS Eupen for an undisclosed price. Along with managing the club, the academy will be allowed to send players from its Football Dreams Program to the club once they turn 18 and graduate.

The program recruits mostly from Africa but also from Asia and Latin America and brings the players to Qatar with the aim of developing their talent and possibly playing for the Qatar national side in the future.

Qatar, which will host the 2022 World Cup, purchased a majority stake in Paris Saint-Germain last year.