Olympic Committee, PMF clash over dissolution of Hashd sports club board
BAGHDAD — A dispute between the Iraqi National Olympic Committee and the Popular Mobilization Forces over the dissolution of Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi Sports Club’s administrative board has escalated into a broader standoff over sports governance and institutional authority.
Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi Sports Club was founded in 2020 and is affiliated with the PMF, the state-recognized security umbrella. It is a multi-sport club based in Baghdad, fielding teams in football, handball and other disciplines, and has competed in Iraq’s First Division football league.
The Olympic Committee said Wednesday that its decision to dissolve the board was based on “violations proven by official documents and explicit legal powers,” adding that the measures “cannot under any circumstances be challenged through speeches or media pressure.”
The committee has not detailed the specific violations but referred to “legal, administrative and financial violations committed by the dissolved administrative board,” saying they were referred to judicial and oversight authorities.
The statement came in response to a letter from PMF head Faleh al-Fayyadh, who described the committee’s actions as “retaliatory” and accused it of overreach.
The Olympic Committee said it is “an independent constitutional institution that does not accept guardianship and is not subject to pressure or dictates from any party,” with decisions based “exclusively on the applicable law and the Olympic Charter.”
It warned that “any direct or indirect interference in the affairs of independent sports bodies constitutes a serious violation of the law and the principle of the independence of sport, and exposes Iraq to serious international consequences.”
The PMF said in a separate statement that it “expressed its condemnation and categorical rejection of the decision,” accusing the committee of acting “without responsibility.”
The PMF said the actions “reflect ill intent, a retaliatory mindset and an attempt to exploit influence in an improper place.”
It warned that if the decision is not reversed, it will “continue to take the necessary legal measures” and “will not hesitate to freeze the club’s activities if necessary until the new sports clubs law is enacted.”
Iraq has a long history of institution-backed sports clubs. Al-Shorta is affiliated with the Interior Ministry and Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya traces its roots to the Air Force.
On Feb. 7, the Olympic Committee condemned threats against executive office member Abdul Salam Khalaf over the dissolution, saying it would pursue legal action. On Feb. 9, supporters staged a protest outside the committee’s headquarters rejecting the decision.
Elections for a new board were held last week, with the previous administration rejecting the dissolution.