Zakho club: We were threatened with death in the Al-Karma match and this is our demand

Zakho has issued a strongly worded official statement, demanding the Football Association and the Referees Committee to open an urgent and transparent investigation regarding the events that accompanied their match against Al-Karma in Anbar during the eighth round of the Iraq Stars League, which ended with Al-Karma winning by a single goal scored by Paul Bassein.

The club stated in its announcement: "We condemn the change of the main referee just two hours before the match and the assignment of VAR referee Mohammed Salman instead of referee Ali Hussein without officially informing him, a procedure that raises significant questions."

The statement added: Al-Karma fans stormed the pitch after the match and issued death threats to the Zakho delegation, including players and staff. They also threw water bottles and hard objects throughout the match, which led to multiple stoppages in play and threatened everyone's safety.

Zakho's management has demanded in its statement that decisive and deterrent measures be taken against those responsible and negligent in these events, to ensure they do not recur and to maintain the safety of the players and apply justice.

Al-Karma secured a 1-0 victory against Zakho yesterday, moving to 20 points and topping the Iraq Stars League table.