Iraqi national team and Zakho club goalkeeper Ali Kazem is now threatened with a severe penalty that could cost him a season-long absence from the pitch due to committing a prohibited administrative error and taking a completely unstudied step.

Ali Kazem, who is 27 years old and was recently called up to the Iraqi national team, renewed his contract with his team Zakho for an additional year after having a distinguished season with the team, contributing to their reaching the final of the Iraq Cup.

Sources told winwin: "Iraqi national team goalkeeper Ali Kazem made a significant and strange administrative error at the same time, as he had previously signed a contract to join Duhok team during the current summer transfer window, putting his signature on his contract with the Eagles of the Mountains before playing in the Iraq Cup final, in a move to strengthen this position before the new season."

They added: "The management of Duhok club decided at that time not to announce the deal for several considerations, hoping to present him in a manner befitting him, but the surprise occurred when the management of Zakho club announced the renewal of the goalkeeper's contract, which caused a huge shock to the management of Duhok club, which decided to file an official complaint to the Disciplinary Committee of the Iraqi Football Association to take decisive actions regarding this legal violation committed by the goalkeeper."

They continued: "The Disciplinary Committee of the Iraqi Football Association, upon receiving Duhok club's complaint, summoned the goalkeeper to come to the headquarters of the Iraqi Federation and appear before the committee next Wednesday, in the presence of a representative from Duhok club, who was present on the day of signing the contract. Thus, the committee will listen to both parties to study the case thoroughly and then issue a disciplinary decision, either to vindicate the goalkeeper or impose a severe penalty on him in the new season."

They indicated: "The management of Duhok club does not intend to withdraw the complaint against Iraqi national team goalkeeper Ali Kazem, as he has negatively affected the team's situation, especially since the management of Duhok club decided to allow their first goalkeeper Mohammed Saleh to leave for Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, which impacted the team's plans during the current transfer period, especially since it is very difficult for Duhok to obtain a distinguished goalkeeper in the current transfers."

The sources concluded by saying: "According to the details of the case, the goalkeeper is highly likely to face a penalty of being banned from playing for a full year, according to the regulations of the Iraqi Federation that stipulate this, as the committee intends to take a decision similar to the one made against player Luay Al-Aani, who faced a ban for an entire season due to signing two contracts simultaneously at that time with Al-Student and Al-Zawraa, and now goalkeeper Ali Kazem has committed the same mistake."

Ali Kazem has been playing for Zakho since the 2023-2024 season, having transferred from the Naft Al-Wasat team, where he has shown great performances and has become one of the important names in the Iraqi Premier League.