The Iraq Football Association have condemned the "abhorrent behaviour" of journalists who confronted coach Jesus Casas during his post-match press conference following the team's Asian Cup exit on Monday.
Two goals in stoppage time saw Iraq slump to a 3-2 defeat and exit at the last-16 stage to lower-ranked Jordan in Doha.
As Casas prepared to answer journalists' questions after the match, tempers flared among some Iraqi reporters, who pointed and shouted angrily at the Spaniard, and approached him at the front of the room before being ushered away by security.
"It pains me what happened," Casas, who has been Iraq coach since November 2022, said of the episode.
Iraq's FA released a statement in which it expressed its "great dismay" at the "scene that was more painful than the undeserved exit of our team".
"These events have no connection to the authentic Iraqi media that is known for its honorable positions," it said, adding that the reporters' behaviour was a "black mark" and their actions had "harmed Iraq" and insulted the coach.
"We denounce the blatant and abhorrent behaviour that occurred against the coach," it said, vowing "not to deal with these media personnel who seek to cause chaos".
The body said it would "follow legal methods to restore the coach's reputation" and was taking measures to preserve the country's image "with unlimited support" from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani.
Casas, 50, was himself angered in Sunday's pre-match press conference by a question about interviews he has done with Spanish media during the Asian Cup.
Some journalists from Iraq believe the interviews distracted him from his work and were partly to blame for Monday's defeat.
Casas rubbished that notion, pointing out that his team had won all three of their group games, including beating pre-tournament favourites Japan 2-1.
"Concerning my future, I'm calm and our goal is to qualify for the 2026 World Cup," Casas, a former assistant coach to Luis Enrique at Spain's national side, said after the Jordan loss.
"Anything might happen and I'm very calm."
Unlike previous national team coaches, Casas and his coaching staff reside in Iraq.
In an interview with The National published on January 15, 2024, Casas spoke of his affection for the people of Iraq and how he hoped to emulate the "heroes" of 2007 and win the Asian Cup.
Not long after his appointment in November 2022, and less than three weeks from his first match with the national team, Casas guided his new side to Arabian Gulf Cup glory.
A fourth regional crown not only snapped a 34-year wait for the trophy, but it held even greater significance: the tournament took place in Basra, the first time the competition was staged in Iraq for almost half a century.
It was only the year before that Fifa, after decades of war and instability in Iraq, lifted its ban on the country hosting international matches.
Jordan, quarter-finalists in 2004 and 2011, face Tajikistan on Friday for a place in the last four. The Central Asians, one of the surprise packages of the tournament on Asian Cup debut, defeated the UAE on penalties on Sunday.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
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Top 10 in the F1 drivers' standings
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 202 points
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 188
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 169
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 117
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 116
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 67
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 56
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 45
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 35
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 26
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The specs: 2017 Lotus Evora Sport 410
Price, base / as tested Dh395,000 / Dh420,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 410hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 420Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.7L / 100km
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
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FIGHT%20CARD
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Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)