At a Glance

• Al-Shorta fans launched a violent ambush on an Erbil SC supporters' bus in central Baghdad following a match.
• The Erbil SC board strongly denounced the attack, labeling it “a dangerous” and “inhumane” assault on spectators.
• Club officials demanded a full legal investigation, calling on security forces and the Iraqi Football Association to hold the perpetrators accountable.

A group of Al-Shorta fans attacked an Erbil SC supporters' bus in central Baghdad, with the Administrative Board of the club denouncing the “dangerous” and “cowardly” incident.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• Erbil Sports Club stated that it “expresses its deep regret, strong stance, and profound dissatisfaction regarding the unfortunate, dangerous, and cowardly incident that occurred in Baghdad following the conclusion of our club's match against Al-Shorta SC.”
• “We call upon the relevant authorities, security agencies, the Administrative Board of Al-Shorta Sports Club, and the Iraqi Football Association to investigate this incident seriously and responsibly,” Erbil SC stressed.

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Erbil SC’s Administrative Board issued a statement on the incident on Saturday, stating that following the peaceful conclusion of the match, a group of Al-Shorta fans “unfortunately launched a cowardly and inhumane attack targeting our supporters and their transport buses.”

The club stated that the assault escalated far beyond a routine fan dispute, targeting transport buses and injuring numerous spectators who traveled to Baghdad solely to support their team.

“The Administrative Board of Erbil SC absolutely rejects and strongly condemns this act. Football is a sport, and all competition and differences must remain within the framework of the law and sportsmanship,” the statement emphasized, adding that “differences in colors, clubs, and fandoms must never lead to putting people's lives at risk.”

Erbil SC expressed full solidarity with fans, offering the club's complete support and wishing a swift recovery to those injured in the incident.

The Administrative Board demanded that all individuals involved in attacking Erbil SC fans and damaging their buses be dealt with strictly according to the law and necessary measures.

The club's board also demanded that all surveillance cameras, evidence, and video footage related to the incident be gathered and meticulously inspected “to clarify the facts completely for the public and relevant parties, thereby safeguarding the rights of our club's fans.”

FYI

The match between Erbil SC and Al-Shorta took place during the fifth round of the Iraq Stars League, concluding in a scoreless draw.

The subsequent assault targeting the Erbil supporters occurred as they were heading back, causing extensive damage to the fans' transport buses.

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