Dozens injured as brawl erupts at Duhok football match

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Dozens of people were injured when a fight broke out after a football match in Duhok on Saturday night.

Duhok was hosting Zakho in an Iraqi Premier League match that is dubbed the Badinan derby. When the referee blew the final whistle of a nil-nil draw, a brawl erupted between fans of the longtime rivals.

Fans could be seen fighting and throwing chairs into the bleachers of their opponents. The police had to intervene to break up the fight and disperse the crowd.

Duhok’s health department said 22 fans and 11 police officers were injured. At least two of the injuries were serious.

Several fans were arrested, according to the city’s police department.