Red card for Kurdish Football

The Kurdistan Region football team has been suspended from an international football tournament, following a row over payments and the last-minute cancellation of the competition.

The Kurdistan Region was due to host the 2024 CONIFA Men’s World Cup, a tournament for teams from states, regions, and minorities not recognised by FIFA. But the Kurdish FA decided to cancel the tournament only a few weeks before it was due to begin.

The reason for the cancellation was due to some teams withdrawing from the competition as a result of regional conflicts and security concerns. Although eight sides still wanted to attend, and some teams had already booked flights, the Kurdish FA cancelled the event just weeks before it was due to start, in a move which angered the organisation and other teams.

CONIFA President Per Anders Blind told The Amargi that the Kurdish FA was asked to pay $15,000 in compensation to teams from Switzerland and Mexico who had already booked flights, but the Kurdish FA refused. “Fifteen thousand is peanuts for the Kurdish government. I believe it is a matter of principle — they simply do not want to pay. That is why the organisation decided to suspend them until they compensate our members,” he said.

Despite the situation, Mr Blind remained optimistic, saying he hopes the issue is resolved and that the tournament can be held in Erbil one day. He added that even if talks with the authorities in Erbil fail, CONIFA may look elsewhere to involve Kurdish teams, such as from the Kurdish region in Syria.

Former Kurdish FA president Tariq Abdulrahman gave a different account of the situation. “We were the only team to offer to cover all costs, such as food, transport, and health expenses. Delegates were surprised by the quality of Erbil’s stadiums, hotels, and security,” he said. He also told The Amargi that the regional government had backed the plan as a chance to attract investment and promote Kurdistan. “Unfortunately, the Gaza situation made some states nervous about the Middle East, even though Erbil has remained safe,” he said.

Only eight teams eventually confirmed participation, which he said was deemed insufficient. Mr Abdulrahman said: “Teams that were initially going to come and we had hoped we’d be able to improve relations with were no longer coming.”

On the reported compensation, Mr Abdulrahman said: “I have no knowledge of the $15,000. This is the first time I have been asked about it. No one had arrived in Erbil, so why should we pay? We did not ask anyone to book tickets.” He added that the FA had not been contacted by CONIFA since the suspension and said the issue remains unresolved.

This incident adds to the region’s deteriorating reputation as a hotspot for people smugglers and migration into Europe and the UK. It comes during a period of economic hardship, when the competition could have offered a chance to boost tourism and attract visitors from abroad. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani launched the “Visit Kurdistan” initiative, setting a target of 20 million tourists by 2030.

Among Kurdish football fans, the reaction to the suspension has been overwhelmingly negative. Many have expressed frustration that the decision punishes players and fans who have worked hard to support the Kurdistan team.

Hama Abdullah, 25, is the co-owner of Leeds Kurdistan FC, a grassroots Sunday league team that plays in the Leeds Combination League. “I want to express my disappointment at the decision to suspend Kurdistan. It is deeply unfair to see players and fans punished for issues that were completely outside their control. The suspension not only impacts the team itself, but also the wider community of supporters who live and breathe football,” he says.

Refugeeza, real name Miran Bapir, is a Kurdish supporter who runs the fan channel Real Dons TV and follows AFC Wimbledon across the UK.

He has urged both sides to resolve the dispute, warning it undermines a rare moment of strength for Kurdish football after Duhok’s Iraqi FA Cup win and Zakho’s run to the final. “The Kurdish people face enough oppression already. The least they can have is a nation to represent in football,” he said.