Iraqi sports minister elected president of football association

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s minister of sports and youth, Adnan Darjal, on Tuesday was elected president of the Iraq Football Association, around three months ahead of the 25th Gulf Cup hosted by Iraq.

Darjal won the election after gaining 48 votes from the association, while his opponent got 16 votes, Iraqi state media reported.  

Ahead of the election, Darjal told Rudaw that he had a large agenda to reveal after he wins.

“We hope that the election is fair and without any problems, we will congratulate whoever wins and wish luck to whoever does not win,” Darjal said. “My agenda is long, and I cannot discuss it all right now.”

In a Facebook post late Monday, Darjal said that he aims to build a national team out of the newer generation in hopes to qualify to the 2030 world cup. He also added that he will work on lifting all bans on Iraqi stadiums by the end of 2021. 

Darjal is considered as one of the most prominent figures of Iraqi football, captaining the team in the 1980s. He played for the national team as a defender during Iraq’s three Gulf cup victories in 1979, 1984, and 1988, and his election comes just a few months ahead of the 25th Gulf cup hosted by Iraq.

The last time Iraq hosted the Gulf cup in 1979, they emerged victorious in a round-robin tournament.

Darjal will now be working both as minister of sport and youth and president of the Iraq FA.

The 25th Gulf Cup is expected to start on December 24 in Basra and the final match will be played on January 7.