Sport often aspires to be an arena happily elevated from the worldly concerns of politics, religion or ideology – a place where people can connect through the commonality of competition and skill.
Frequently, however, aspiration and reality aren’t the same thing – a fact members of the Saudi and Iraqi youth football teams were reminded of this week.
In a match against the Kingdom in the Asian Youth Cup, the Iraqi National Youth Team celebrated a goal with a traditional Shia “slapping” routine – causing controversy online.
After player Mazen Fayyad scored an equalizer goal in the Quarter-final match, Iraqi players celebrated by gathering around the player and beating themselves, in a "slapping" act that’s common in the Shia community, UAE news website Erem reported.
Many viewers on social media were unimpressed at what they regarded as an unnecessary imposition into sport.
#السعوديه_العراق
— هتان الصبحي (@h_alragi) 23 October 2016
حتى الرياضة لم تسلم من طائفيتهم ،
فرق بين اللطم والسجود والحمدلله اولاً واخيرًا pic.twitter.com/axql9Cnoqa
Even sport was not left out of sectarianism! There is a difference between slapping and kneeling and thank God at the beginning and the end.
But those who disapproved were vindicated at the end of the match, when the Saudi team won 6-5 on penalties.
تأهلت السعودية ...
— طارق النوفل (@TARIQALNOFAL) 23 October 2016
الافراح بالرياض واللطم ببغداد ..!! #السعودية_العراق
Saudi qualified. Celebrations in Ryadh and slapping in Baghdad!
المنتخب العراقي يلطم بعد تسجيل هدف التعادل فجاءهم الرد #السعودية_العراق pic.twitter.com/h3xVz1LgNe
— غـادة - البحرين (@GhadaSabt) 24 October 2016
Iraqi team was slapping after having the equalizer goal, they got the pay back.
The slapping celebration wasn’t the only cheeky addition to play from the Iraqi team. In a previous match with North Korea, the youths celebrated with a military salute – marking Iraq’s military operation against Daesh (ISIS) in Mosul, according to Erem news.
BS
