Al-Maymani was booked for taking off his Oman shirt [AL JAZEERA]

Al-Maymani curled an exquisite shot into the top corner to give the hosts a 1-0 lead and set them on their way to a spot in the semi-finals on Saturday night.

He immediately tore off his maroon jersey to reveal a white shirt with the words 'Our hearts with Gaza' written in green and red Arabic script.

The gesture came in the same week that Sevilla's Frederic Kanoute was booked for showing off a Palestine t-shirt after scoring in Spain's Copa del Rey.

Automatic yellow

And while Le Roy said he had warned his players not to pick up "stupid" bookings, he slammed the rule that makes it an automatic yellow card if a player reveals his shirt.

"I always tell my players not to get stupid yellow cards, but it was for a very good reason – to show solidarity with the people of Gaza," the Frenchman said.

"I think my friend Kanoute at Sevilla was a little bit more clever because he just took up his top a little bit but didn't take it off.

"We have worked hard with Bader to get him ready for this competition because he was very far off, and he has put in a lot of effort.

"I will tell him that I was angry with him on one level but on the other I understand.

"Sometimes in this game the rules are made by people who haven't seen a football from closer than 200 metres."

Dangerous stage

While Omanis partied into the night after the 2-0 victory that saw them two wins away from picking up their first Gulf Cup, Le Roy warned that semi-finals were a particularly dangerous stage for a host nation.

"If you look at Italy at the World Cup in 1990, or Germany in 2006, they were both host nations with a wave of public expaectation behind them who went out in the semi-finals," he said.

Italy go out on penalties to Argentina at the San Siro in 1990 [GALLO/GETTY]

"Everyone is thinking about the final but you still have to get through the next match.

"If you look at the history of competitions a lot of host nations went out at this stage."

Oman must wait until Sunday evening to find out who they will play on January 14 after topping group A ahead of Kuwait.

Big three in hunt

Saudi Arabia play UAE, with whom they are level on four points at the top of group B – although the Saudis have a goal difference of six compared to the defending champions' two.

Qatar, in third, have two points but play bottom side Yemen, who have shipped nine goals and sacked coach Mohsen Saleh on Friday.

All three could potentially finish first depending on respective results and goals scored.

"We know the Saudis are maybe better than us," said Le Roy.

"Qatar is a strong team and have played two big games against Saudi Arabia and UAE.

"There are now two big games but what I told people before the competition is that Oman will never be an easy team to beat.

"All the players dream of the Gulf Cup and this may be their last chance to win it."