On Saturday night, following a goalless draw in the Badinan derby held in Duhok, tensions escalated into a heated altercation which ultimately spiraled into a violent fight. As a consequence, numerous individuals in the crowd suffered injuries, with estimates indicating that dozens were affected.
In the highly anticipated Iraqi Premier League match between Duhok and Zakho, commonly referred to as the Badinan derby, tensions reached a boiling point when the referee signaled the end of the game with a scoreless draw. Chaos ensued as fans from the rival teams engaged in a violent brawl. This unfortunate incident resulted in a significant number of injuries among both sets of supporters.
According to a Duhok police source, the aftermath of the clash revealed that a total of 33 individuals sustained injuries, including 11 police officers. Two of the injured victims are currently in a state of unconsciousness and remain in a coma.
The scene unfolded with fans engaging in physical confrontations, hurling chairs into the opposing team’s stands. The situation escalated to such an extent that law enforcement had to step in to intervene, bringing an end to the fight and dispersing the unruly crowd.
The Duhok Police Department has announced the successful arrest of individuals involved in causing disturbances.
Duhok FC and Zakho FC have long regarded each other as their primary rivals. The intense competition between these two teams culminates in the highly anticipated “Badinan Derby.” However, recent differences in their respective performances have somewhat lessened the animosity between them. Both Duhok FC and Zakho FC enjoy a significant fan base and are among the most popular football clubs in the Iraqi Premier League. As of the 3rd week of the 2023/2024 season, Duhok FC currently holds the third rank, while Zakho FC trails behind in the 17th position.
Both Duhok FC and Zakho FC originate from the Duhok province, located in the northwestern region of the Kurdistan Region.
