Revelations from the match between Al-Karma and Erbil in the Stars League

Franco Hariri Stadium in Erbil witnessed unfortunate events unrelated to sport following the conclusion of the match between Erbil and Al-Karmah in the seventh round of the Iraqi Premier League, which ended with the visitors winning 2-1.

The match, which was supposed to end with a handshake between the two teams, turned into a scene of chaos and serious assaults against the fans of Al-Karma and the team bus after the final whistle.

Following the match with Al-Karma's victory, a number of Erbil fans directly attacked the stands allocated for the visiting supporters.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that the assault involved beatings with hands and seats, forcing Al-Karma fans to remain trapped inside the stadium until the early hours, fearing for their safety and unable to leave until a long time had passed and security forces intervened.

The events did not stop there. As the Al-Karma bus was leaving the stadium, the same fans openly and unsportingly pelted the bus with stones, in a scene captured by videos circulating on social media.

Serious violations led to injuries among Al-Karma fans, including a child who suffered a direct blow to the head, sparking widespread outrage in the Iraqi sports community.

What happened at François Hariri is not an isolated incident. Fans of Erbil Club, according to observers, have always caused problems in previous periods and repeat the same scenario with more than one club, whether in Erbil or outside it.

Despite previous sanctions, it seems that the phenomenon is repeating itself without any real deterrent.

Legal and disciplinary actions are expected to be taken against Erbil FC and its fans by the Disciplinary Committee of the Iraqi Football Association.

According to the regulations, the penalty could reach:

A hefty fine may be imposed on the club.

Fans have been banned from attending a number of home matches.

Matches will be moved to a neutral ground in the event of repeated violations.

Sources within the federation have confirmed that the match observer's report and the referee included all the violations in detail, along with video clips, and that a decision will be issued in the coming days.

The Iraqi Premier League is witnessing a development in competition and fan engagement this season, but such events set the tournament back.

What happened to the Al-Karma fans must not go unnoticed. Protecting visiting fans and club buses is the responsibility of the organizers, and any leniency will encourage a repeat of the chaos.