.Iraq soccer final before sellout crowd
BAGHDAD (AP) — Tens of thousands of Baghdad soccer fans cheered on their club in the top league's final game, the largest sports crowd the city has seen since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
The Baghdad club, al-Zawraa, lost 0-1 in overtime Sunday to a team from Irbil in northern Iraq. But the game was not marred by crowd violence or a terrorist attack, a sign that security forces are asserting more control in the capital.
In the past five years of war and sectarian killings, large gatherings would have been considered too dangerous — tempting targets for suicide bombers and other attackers.
However, the government helped ensure a large turnout Sunday, apparently to show that security is improving in the city of 6 million. The Transportation Ministry said it provided free buses to the Shaab stadium in eastern Baghdad, the city's largest with a capacity of 50,000 spectators.
Senior government and security officials attended, including the Cabinet spokesman.
Spectators were searched at the entrance to the stadium, sniffer dogs patrolled the grounds and several dozen helmeted riot police with shields lined the field.
A few dozen Irbil fans, dressed in their team's yellow jerseys, stood out in the crowd. Some bottles flew in their direction, but they did not react and there were no reports of injuries.
Al-Zawraa supporters taunted the team from Irbil, capital of the self-governing Kurdish region known for its dairy products, with choice rhymes.
"You know how to make yogurt, but you don't know anything about soccer," the crowd chanted.
After Irbil scored in overtime, its fans left the stadium before the end of the game. The Irbil players danced in a circle on the field to celebrate the victory.
A shared passion for soccer occasionally bridges the ethnic and religious divisions in post-war Iraq. The whole nation cheered in 2007 when Iraq's national team won the Asian Cup for the first time, beating continental powerhouse Saudi Arabia in the final 1-0.
AP
BREAKING NEWS...
AN AP Exclusive!
THERE WAS NO BOMB!
Check back in latter for more details.
The Baghdad club, al-Zawraa, lost 0-1 in overtime Sunday to a team from Irbil in northern Iraq. But the game was not marred by crowd violence or a terrorist attack, a sign that security forces are asserting more control in the capital.
In the past five years of war and sectarian killings, large gatherings would have been considered too dangerous — tempting targets for suicide bombers and other attackers.
However, the government helped ensure a large turnout Sunday, apparently to show that security is improving in the city of 6 million. The Transportation Ministry said it provided free buses to the Shaab stadium in eastern Baghdad, the city's largest with a capacity of 50,000 spectators.
Senior government and security officials attended, including the Cabinet spokesman.
Spectators were searched at the entrance to the stadium, sniffer dogs patrolled the grounds and several dozen helmeted riot police with shields lined the field.
A few dozen Irbil fans, dressed in their team's yellow jerseys, stood out in the crowd. Some bottles flew in their direction, but they did not react and there were no reports of injuries.
Al-Zawraa supporters taunted the team from Irbil, capital of the self-governing Kurdish region known for its dairy products, with choice rhymes.
"You know how to make yogurt, but you don't know anything about soccer," the crowd chanted.
After Irbil scored in overtime, its fans left the stadium before the end of the game. The Irbil players danced in a circle on the field to celebrate the victory.
A shared passion for soccer occasionally bridges the ethnic and religious divisions in post-war Iraq. The whole nation cheered in 2007 when Iraq's national team won the Asian Cup for the first time, beating continental powerhouse Saudi Arabia in the final 1-0.
AP
BREAKING NEWS...
AN AP Exclusive!
THERE WAS NO BOMB!
Check back in latter for more details.
posted by madtom at 9:10 PM
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