Iraq considers moving Al Zawraa vs Al Shorta match to another stadium

The Iraqi Football Association's Competitions Committee is considering a new and controversial proposal to hold home and away matches between the capital's rivals Al Zawraa and Al Shorta at the International Stadium next Friday, as part of the 11th round of the Iraq Stars League.

The proposal, still under consideration, aims to ensure equal attendance for both teams' supporters at 50% each, in a move that seeks to enhance the organizational and fan equality in one of the most prominent league matches and the strongest derbies in the capital.

The match of round 11 between Al Zawraa and Al Shorta is set to take place at Al Zawraa Stadium, considering that Al Zawraa is the home team in the first leg.

However, this has raised implicit objections from the police and his fans, as some believe that holding the match at Al Zawraa's stadium will give Al-Nawras a significant advantage in terms of crowd support and organization, especially given the limited capacity of the stadium compared to the city stadium.

Therefore, the proposal has been made to move the match to the International Stadium, a neutral venue that can accommodate a larger number of fans, allowing for an equal division of the stands between Al Zawraa and Al Shorta, ensuring a fair and balanced derby atmosphere and preventing one side from monopolizing the stands.

The proposal has been met with a clear division in the sports community. The Al-Shorta fans welcomed the idea and considered it a step towards justice, asserting that a derby of this magnitude should be held in a neutral and large stadium that can accommodate the fans of both teams.

In contrast, Al Zawraa fans believe they have the right to benefit from home advantage, especially since the draw granted Al Zawraa the right to play at home in the first leg, and moving the match would deprive the team of a legitimate advantage guaranteed by the regulations.

The Al Zawraa and Al Shorta derby is considered one of the strongest derbies in the capital and one of the most popular and exciting. It always witnesses a large turnout and significant tension both inside and outside the stadium. Therefore, the federation is working to secure the match organizationally and in terms of security in the best possible way, which explains the consideration of the city stadium as a compromise solution that satisfies all parties.

The Iraqi Football Association is expected to announce its final decision in the coming hours, whether to keep the match at Al Zawraa Stadium or to approve the proposal and officially move it to the city stadium next Friday.