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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Several fans were injured in clashes following an Iraqi Stars League football match between Erbil SC and al-Shorta SC in Baghdad on Friday, which ended in a draw. Erbil SC issued a statement condemning the attack on its supporters and called on authorities to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.
In a statement on Saturday, Erbil SC described the incident as “distressing, dangerous, and cowardly,” saying that "a group of al-Shorta fans unfortunately carried out a cowardly and inhumane attack on our fans and the buses transporting them.”
“This attack went far beyond an ordinary clash between fans; it resulted in an assault on the buses of Erbil SC fans and left several of our beloved fans injured,” the statement added.
This comes as the Iraqi Stars League, the highest football division in the country, enters the first month of its 2026-2027 season. Erbil SC currently leads the division with 11 points, while al-Shorta sits in sixth position with eight points.
In its statement, Erbil SC strongly condemned the behavior, stressing that athletic rivalries "must remain within the bounds of the law and sportsmanship."
The club expressed solidarity with the injured fans and called on Iraqi security agencies, the national football association, and al-Shorta SC to investigate the incident, review surveillance footage, and hold those responsible accountable.
“We demand that everyone involved in attacking Erbil SC fans and damaging their buses be held accountable and dealt with according to the law and necessary legal measures,” the club requested.
Incidents of stadium violence have occurred previously in the league. In late April 2025, an Iraqi Stars League match in Sulaimani was suspended after violent clashes erupted over a disallowed Zakho goal against Newroz.
Fans from both sides stormed the pitch, throwing objects and damaging hundreds of stadium seats, resulting in at least 30 reported injuries.
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