Stuffed toys thrown onto the pitch by Zakho SC fans before their May 13 match against Al-Hudood, later donated to children with illnesses. (Photo: Zakho SC)
Zakho fans nominated for 2025 FIFA Fan Award after toy donation gesture
NEWSROOM — FIFA has nominated supporters of Zakho Sports Club for the 2025 FIFA Fan Award, recognizing a stadium gesture that drew global attention earlier this year.
It marks the first time fans of a Kurdish or Iraqi football club have been shortlisted for the honor, which celebrates exceptional moments of passion or solidarity by football supporters.
The nomination follows a match on May 13 in the Iraqi Stars League against Al-Hudood, when thousands of Zakho fans threw toys onto the pitch as part of a coordinated campaign to donate them to sick children — a move that was widely shared across social media and praised for its compassion and community spirit.
Zakho Sports Club described the nomination as a milestone for both the team and its supporters. “The presence of our club and its supporters within domestic and international tournaments and stadiums has undoubtedly become a powerful and attractive gateway for drawing global media and viewership,” the club said in a statement.
Officials said the recognition highlights the wider role Zakho fans play beyond football. “Special attention has been consistently given to the humanitarian, cultural, historical, artistic, and many other facets,” the statement continued. “The selection of our supporters by FIFA demonstrates that correct work in the service of humanity is being accomplished.”
The club added that the nomination “serves as an impetus for even greater humanitarian initiatives in the future.”
Voting for the 2025 FIFA Fan Award is now open on FIFA’s official website. Zakho fans join two other nominees: Argentine supporter Alejandro Ciganotto and the late Spanish national team fan Manuel Cáceres, known as “Manolo the Drummer.”