jordan pulse -

The Iraq Football Association (IFA) has officially lodged a complaint with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA, requesting that their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Jordan be either moved to a neutral venue or played behind closed doors.

The complaint follows incidents during Iraq’s match against Palestine in Amman on March 25, 2025, where the IFA alleges that hostile chants, threats, and discriminatory behavior were directed at the Iraqi team and fans. Similar chants were also reported in Jordan’s match against Palestine on March 20 at the same venue.

The Iraqi FA claims that stadium officials allowed additional spectators into the match after kickoff, leading to the escalation of political and racial chants, which allegedly created a hostile environment and affected fair play. The association has submitted video evidence to support its claims.

Citing FIFA and AFC regulations that prohibit hate speech, discrimination, and violence in sports, the IFA has urged immediate action to investigate the incidents. They are calling for sanctions and the relocation of their June 10, 2025, qualifier against Jordan from Amman to a neutral venue or to be played without fans to ensure the safety of the Iraqi team.

The IFA also emphasized that it had previously expressed concerns in February, warning of potential tensions and requesting a venue change even before the recent incidents occurred.