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Iraqi Soccer Player Shot, Killed by Fan
Posted Mar 15th 2009 3:15PM by Michael David Smith (RSS feed)
Filed Under: International Soccer
A soccer player in Iraq died on Sunday after he was shot in the head by a spectator in the stands.
The attack took place just as the striker was set to score a tying goal in the last minute of a game between two rival teams in Hilla, a city in the south of Iraq that is home to about 500,000 people.
The BBC reports, citing local security officials, that the striker was shot in the head during the final minute of the game, which was being played between teams from Sinjar and Buhayra. One suspect has been arrested and Iraqi police are continuing to investigate.
The killing comes at a time when some have pointed to increased soccer games as a sign that Iraq is finding some sense of normalcy. Mohammed Salih, a 28-year-old Iraqi, told an American reporter last week, "This is the first time since 2003 I've felt safe enough to come back to the stadium. There's so much news about bad politics and poor security. Football is the only thing that brings relief to my soul
Posted Mar 15th 2009 3:15PM by Michael David Smith (RSS feed)
Filed Under: International Soccer
A soccer player in Iraq died on Sunday after he was shot in the head by a spectator in the stands.
The attack took place just as the striker was set to score a tying goal in the last minute of a game between two rival teams in Hilla, a city in the south of Iraq that is home to about 500,000 people.
The BBC reports, citing local security officials, that the striker was shot in the head during the final minute of the game, which was being played between teams from Sinjar and Buhayra. One suspect has been arrested and Iraqi police are continuing to investigate.
The killing comes at a time when some have pointed to increased soccer games as a sign that Iraq is finding some sense of normalcy. Mohammed Salih, a 28-year-old Iraqi, told an American reporter last week, "This is the first time since 2003 I've felt safe enough to come back to the stadium. There's so much news about bad politics and poor security. Football is the only thing that brings relief to my soul