Iraqi Football Federation Election Crisis Intensifies as Noor Sabri Heads to Court

The dispute over Iraq’s football federation elections is moving deeper into the courts. Former Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri is due to appear before an Iraqi judge to testify about the legal representation of the International Players Association.

The case centres on whether Samer Saeed, the association’s representative, was entitled to take part in the election vote. Saeed said the association is linked to civil society organisations, not to the football federation. He also said former players Ali Jabbar and Mohammed Kadhim had testified that they authorised him to represent them.

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The International Players Association is linked to civil society organisations, not to the football federation.

Saeed said the testimony of association members is continuing. He said Sabri would appear to confirm the authenticity of his signature and the minutes of the latest meeting, which gave the association legal cover to participate in the vote. The court has a complete list of people who attended that meeting, he said, and he is prepared to accept the legal consequences if the claims are disproved.

The conflict follows complaints filed by former federation president Adnan درجال against the current federation in Iraqi courts and at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He has alleged violations in the election, including Saeed’s participation in the vote. In response to a complaint against the players’ association, current federation president Younis Mahmoud filed a formal complaint against درجال with the Federal Integrity Commission and said he holds several files concerning the former president.

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I am prepared to bear all legal consequences if the opposite is proven.