Arbil Demands Cancellation of Akam Hashim's Contract, Blames Zakho!

Erbil FC has issued an official statement to the authorities in Erbil and Duhok, requesting the cancellation of Iraq national team player Akam Hashim's contract with Zakho FC, arguing that his continued presence poses a direct threat to sportsmanship and the relationship between the fans of Erbil and Zakho.

Arbil stated in its announcement: "We demand the cancellation of player Akam Hashim's contract to protect sports between the fans of Arbil and Zakho," noting that the player grew up in the club's youth ranks and went on to represent the national team.

The club stated that this demand comes at a time when the team is preparing to compete in four important tournaments this season: the Iraqi Premier League, the Iraqi Cup, the Iraqi Super Cup, and the Gulf Champions League, which the statement described as "the most important" among the season's commitments.

The statement revealed the management's moves during the transfer period, stating: "In our efforts to strengthen our team and to retain player Shirzad Timerov while signing player Akam Hashem, we wanted to better prepare ourselves for this national mission."

Arbil has accused the management of Zakho of failing to consider "national and sporting responsibility," stating: "The management of Zakho did not take this responsibility into account, and by exaggerating the financial aspects of the contracts, they kept both players at their club."

In contrast, Zakho Club recently announced the official signing of defender Akam Hashim on a free transfer, with a fee amounting to 1.8 billion Iraqi dinars for just one season.

Hashim is considered one of the standout defenders in Iraq in recent times, successfully establishing himself with the national team and the clubs he has represented. This has made him a key target for Erbil in the current transfer market.

Arbil FC has openly expressed its concern about the implications of the current situation, stating: "We feel a great deal of concern regarding this situation, and we believed that the spirit of brotherhood and cooperation among the Kurdistan clubs should be above any other sports competition."

This statement comes amid heightened sensitivity surrounding the matches between Arbil and Zakho, which typically see large crowds and tension between the two sides. Arbil believes that Akam Hashim's stay in Zakho could intensify the friction, especially since he is a club alumnus and enjoys widespread popularity in Arbil.

Arbil is preparing for an exceptional season on four fronts, with the most notable being their continental participation in the Gulf Champions League. This has prompted the management to take early action to strengthen the squad and retain key players such as Shirzad Taimirov.

However, the failed negotiations with Zakho regarding Akam Hashim and Timerov, along with the increased financial demands, have prompted the Arbil management to escalate the matter to the responsible authorities in the provinces, hoping for intervention to resolve the crisis.