Footballer Shot Dead By Rival Supporter

[Black Widow]

A footballer was shot dead just as he was about to score what could have been the equalising goal in a match in Iraq.

The striker from the amateur team Buhairat had only the goalkeeper to beat in the last minute of play to tie the game at 1-1 when a supporter of the rival Sinjar club shot him in the head.

Police said a spectator had been arrested following the shooting in Hilla, 60 miles south of Baghdad on Saturday.

"As soon as Haider Kadhim (the player) was alone in front of the goalkeeper and close to equalising, a fan in the crowd fired a pistol at him," a senior police officer said.

"We arrested this fan immediately but unfortunately the player died."

Iraqis love football and hope the game can help reconcile warring ethnic groups and sects in a country where gun ownership is common.

Iraq's surprise victory in the 2007 Asian Cup saw rival Shi'ites, Sunni Arabs and Kurds pouring into the streets to celebrate their team's 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the Jakarta final.

In December 2008 the friendly Goal For Peace tournament was held between Iraq and an all-star international XI at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy.

Backed by stars such as Ronaldinho and Alessandro del Piero, it highlighted the role football could play in bringing peace to the war-torn country.


Sky News

[Darth Fozzy]

Jesus, stupid idiot

[lɐuǝɯo⊥ǝɥԀ]

What an absolute Idiot