Fans of Air Force Club
Iraqi FA bans Air Force Club fans for two matches over sectarian chants
BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Football Association Disciplinary Committee on Sunday sanctioned Air Force Club with a two-match stadium ban for its supporters and a 10 million Iraqi dinar fine (about $6,850) after finding that fans engaged in “sectarian chants” during a league match, and separately fined a player for “unsportsmanlike conduct.”
In a statement, the committee said it reviewed the match observer’s report from the Iraq Stars League game between Air Force Club and Al-Karma, played at Al-Madina International Stadium, which Air Force won 1-0. The report said Air Force supporters “launched offensive and sectarian chants during the match in the 44th, 54th and 68th minutes.”
After examining match footage, the committee concluded that “the chanting of sectarian slogans by Air Force Club supporters… harms the national fabric and is far removed from sporting behavior.”
The committee also reviewed a memorandum from the federation’s General Secretariat dated Jan. 11, 2026, stating that Air Force player Haitham Jouini “deliberately damaged the penalty spot before his opponent took a penalty kick, which constitutes an unusual departure from the spirit of sportsmanship.” Jouini was fined two million Iraqi dinars (about $1,370) under Article 46-2-A of the Disciplinary Regulations.
A separate General Secretariat memorandum dated the same day addressed “unsportsmanlike chants by some Air Force Club supporters against Al-Karma player Ayman Hussein.” The committee said “sectarian behavior contradicts sporting values, harms national unity and the social fabric, and violates the principle of respecting the opposing team.”
As a result, the committee ordered that Air Force supporters be barred from attending two matches at the club’s designated home ground under Article 49-1-B of the Disciplinary and Ethics Regulations for the current season, and imposed a 10 million dinar fine under Article 49-1-2-A.
The committee said all decisions were issued unanimously and are subject to appeal.