Badr Nasser, the president of the local football union in Basra, revealed on Wednesday the reasons that led to the deterioration of the pitch at the new Al-Mina Stadium, despite its handover in good condition at its opening.

Nasser stated in a press statement that the Ministry of Youth and Sports handed over the stadium in its full readiness to the Ports Company, but its condition deteriorated rapidly due to neglect and the absence of necessary financial allocations for maintenance, which rendered it unfit to host matches.

He explained that the ministry withdrew its technical and engineering staff from the stadium after the official agreement for its handover, and the Ports Company was supposed to start maintenance operations immediately, but it did not do so due to the lack of financial support.

Nasser confirmed that the Ports Company recently allocated a budget for the rehabilitation of the stadium and has actually begun maintenance work, expressing hope that the stadium will regain its readiness soon and be able to host matches for Al-Mina Club in the Iraqi Stars League.

Regarding the Al-Madina Sports Stadium 'Palm Tree Trunk', Nasser emphasized that it is always ready to host international and local matches alongside national team training, thanks to the continuous efforts of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in maintaining and managing it since it is still under the ministry's jurisdiction.

He also noted that the training fields in the sports city, including the 10,000 spectator stadium, are in excellent condition and do not suffer from any flaws, appreciating the ministry's continuous efforts in monitoring sports facilities in Basra.