International referee and Asian lecturer Raad Saleem passes away

The Iraqi sports community was devastated this Thursday morning by the sad news of the passing of one of the most prominent figures who served Iraqi football for decades, both on the pitch with his wisdom and fairness and off it through his administrative, media, and educational stances, following a battle with illness after a recent surgical operation he underwent in the capital, Baghdad.

The Iraqi Football Association, led by Captain Younis Mahmoud, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former international referee and accredited Asian instructor Raad Saleem Al-Samawi, who passed away at the age of 60. They extended their heartfelt condolences to his family and to the football sports community across the country.

The remarkable career of the late individual highlighted exceptional milestones that combined a multitude of talents and experiences. He began his football journey as a goalkeeper for Al-Samawah SC before transitioning to refereeing, earning his international badge during the 1990s, successfully and competently officiating major local and international matches.

Sports records have shown that Captain Raad Saleem has not only managed matches in the Premier League and the heated capital derbies between the fans of Al-Zawraa, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, Al-Shorta, and Al-Talaba, but his contributions have also extended to continental and regional events, participating in the management of Arab club championships and Asian competitions with great competence.

The sports community remembers the significant role played by the late figure after his retirement, as he left clear marks in the development of the refereeing system through his work as a member of the Referees Committee and an accredited assessor, in addition to his efforts as an Asian instructor who directly contributed to discovering and training new generations of young referees.

The late individual's career included a distinctive media aspect, highlighted by his role as a sports correspondent for London Radio and the Arab Radio and Television Network (ART) at the beginning of the millennium. He also served as the media spokesperson for the referees' committee, culminating in his appearances as an analyst and clarifier of controversial refereeing situations on satellite channels such as Al-Rabia and Iraqi Sports.