Video: Ex-Italy head coach Mancini hears explosions in Qatar – ‘We were afraid’

Former Italy national team head coach Roberto Mancini has commented on the developing situation in the Middle East after he heard explosions from his current home in Qatar: ‘There has been a massive deployment of forces here in the Gulf. We were afraid that something would happen’. 

Former Italy head coach Mancini reports from Qatar: ‘An alarm started ringing, shortly afterwards, the explosions began’

Mancini is currently housebound in Doha, Qatar, where he is the head coach of Qatar Stars League side Al Sadd. 

The former Italy, Inter and Manchester City head coach has told Tg1 that he received an emergency alert notification on his phone while he was in Church, telling him to return home and remain there until further notice.

“An alarm on my phone started ringing, the message was written in Arabic, there were five or six of them. Shortly afterwards, the explosions began” Mancini told Tg1 from his home in Doha. 

“We were at mass, the alerts came in when we were in church,” Mancini explained. “They said to go home immediately and to stay there.” 

Mancini is 61 years old, but still has his parents at the forefront of his thoughts in these difficult circumstances: “My mother called me, she was worried. I told her to stay calm, at least for now.

“There has been a massive deployment of forces here in the Gulf. We were afraid that something would happen. We hoped that diplomacy would dissolve the tensions. Now let’s hope for the best.” 

Tra gli italiani che vivono con preoccupazione l’evolversi della situazione, c’è anche l’ex CT della Nazionale, Roberto #Mancini. La sua testimonianza da #Doha.#Tg1 Alessandra Barone pic.twitter.com/ybEiZstbqz

— Tg1 (@Tg1Rai) February 28, 2026