Najaf Signing Sparks Fine for Al-Gharraf's Keeper in Iraqi League Transfer Saga

Disciplinary Ruling in Iraqi Football

The disciplinary committee of the Iraqi Football Association held a lengthy meeting on Wednesday to review Najaf's complaint against Muqtaba Mohammed Jasim, the goalkeeper of Al-Gharraf.

The complaint centered on a two-year deal Najaf says was signed on August 1, and on a separate contract between the player and Al-Gharraf.

The committee reviewed both contracts, summoned Najaf's representative, and heard the players' statements.

According to an official statement, Najaf's representative Fadel Mohammed Ali confirmed the player signed on August 1 and that the contract advance was paid on October 10, after which he reportedly joined Al-Gharraf.

He noted that the agreement remained dependent on obtaining a release from Naft Basra; if release could not be secured, the contract would be void.

When contacted, Naft Basra’s club president Ali Naif was told to demand a payment portion to secure the release, but the request was not met, allegedly due to a lack of funds.

He added that if the payment was not made, the contract would be considered null and void as per the prior agreement, and indeed the contract with Najaf was canceled for non-payment.

Decision of the Committee

The disciplinary committee stated that Najaf signed with the player on the basis of obtaining a release from his previous club, and that the contract was suspended awaiting that release. Since the release was not secured and the player could not be released, the contract was deemed invalid and without legal effect.

They fined Muqtaba Mohammed Jasim 30 million Iraqi dinars (roughly $23,000) under Article 88 of the Disciplinary and Ethics regulations for the 2025-2026 season, with the right to appeal.

Schedule changes in Round 6

Separately, the Competitions Committee announced changes to two Round 6 matches due to ongoing maintenance at Al-Karkh Stadium and a fan festival at Al-Fayhaa Stadium.

The Najaf vs Amanat Baghdad match will be moved to Thursday at 6:00 PM local time at Al-Shaab Stadium, and the Kar Kh vs Electricity match will be held Friday at 10:00 PM at Al-Fayhaa Arena.

The round began with an exciting clash between Police and Karmah, followed by Norouz hosting Erbil.

Coach Moamen Soliman, Police's coach, said before the match, “Our team is fully prepared and we face a well-organized opponent with quality players.”

Wasam Talib, Norouz's assistant coach, added, “Today's match against Police is important, and our goal is to compete for the title.”

Erbil coach Basem Qasem commented, “We always work to prepare our players mentally to approach every game with a winning mindset... we hope to deliver a strong performance despite the difficulty, and we trust the team's mental state and positive outlook.”

He continued, “The responsibility is heavier now, especially after positive results. Our players show enthusiasm and determination not to drop any points. Maintaining points against bigger teams requires consistency at home and away.”

He concluded, “The match won't be easier than the one we won against Police, but it's certainly another chance to show Erbil's strength.”

Erbil beat Police 1-0 last Friday with Uzbek Shershod Timrov scoring; they share the top with Diyala on 13 points at the start of Round 6.

Norouz's new coach Walid Karim said, “Hours before the match, the Norouz management called me after the Duhok game and offered me the position. The team is in a difficult situation: in five games, we lost four and won one, which has a negative impact on the players' morale.”

He added, “My full focus is to lift the team's morale... I believe in this project; I've signed a three-year contract to stay through 2028. I'm optimistic we can restore the team to its rightful place.”