Al-Araibi, a former Bahraini national team player, was living in Australia after fleeing torture and persecution in his home country in 2014.

However, while arriving for his honeymoon in Thailand, he was detained.

FIFPRO added its name to a petition, organized by Amnesty International, which gathered some 16,000 signatures in the first 24 hours.

FIFPRO member, Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), was heavily involved with a campaign (#Save Hakeem) to get Al Araibi released from Thai prison. (See video below)

The international effort on his behalf was successful and his release came on 11 February 2019 after Thai prosecutors dropped the case. He returned to his life in Melbourne, Australia, the following day before being granted Australian citizenship a month later.

After his return al-Araibi played for Pasco Vale FC.