Iraq: A statement regarding Kuwait departure from Basra International Stadium

INA - BAGHDAD 

The Iraqi Football Association issued a statement regarding the Kuwaiti delegation’s departure from Basra International Stadium yesterday, during the opening ceremony of the 25th Gulf Championship.

"The Federation expresses its deep regret that some organizational matters went out of the correct framework in the opening ceremonies of the 25th Gulf Cup in Basra," said the Federation, in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA. 

The president of the federation, Adnan Dirjal, offered, in a press statement, an apology to the Kuwaiti delegation for the difficulties it encountered in entering the Stadium, and the resulting departure of the representative of the Emir of the State of Kuwait, head of the Olympic Committee, Sheikh Fahad Al-Nasser, as well as the president of the Kuwaiti federation and members of the Council of Ministers.

Dirjal expressed, according to the statement, his "deep regret at the crowd scenes that occurred in front of the stadium and inside the main booth," stressing that "the Iraqi Federation, as well as those in charge of organizing the championship, will take into account the necessity of avoiding what happened to ensure that the organizational process appears in the best form, starting with the matches of the second day of the championship."

"What happened, in terms of organizational matters, will not affect the strength of the relationship between Iraq and Kuwait, especially at the sports level," he highlighted, pointing out that "the Kuwaiti Federation was one of the strongest supporters of holding the championship in Basra, whether via the visit of the President of the Kuwaiti Federation, Abdullah Al-Shaheen and his accompanying delegation to the championship stadiums about three weeks before it is held, or with the attendance of the Kuwaiti national team to meet the Iraqi national team in a friendly way at Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium."

Dirjal urged the fans to "continue to support and assist in order for the championship to be a success, which represents the gateway to the return of Iraqi sports to hosting sporting events after a long period of absence."