Lee Gaskin
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times
Iraq coach Radhi Shenaishil has called on Asian Cup organisers to have rival fans seated in different parts of Canberra Stadium for Friday night’s emotion-charged quarter-final with Iran.
Another sold-out crowd of more than 18,000 is expected for the clash of two countries that were at war from 1980 to 1988.
The hostilities have been resolved off the pitch, with Iran taking a 1-0 win against Iraq in a friendly in Wollongong in January as a lead-up to the Asian Cup.
Shenaishil said he wasn’t happy that Iraq supporters were sitting in the same section of the stadium as Palestine fans during his team’s 2-0 win at Canberra Stadium on Tuesday night.
“From an organising point of view, they [the fans] should be separate,” Shenaishil said. “Having both [teams’] fans together doesn’t mean all fans are there to make trouble.
“Sometimes that happens through a misunderstanding. Most of the fans are there to support their team and have a wonderful time but there should be more organisation in regards to separating fans.”
A spokesperson for the local organising committee said there were no plans to segregate fans and that there had been no trouble at all during the tournament.
“Fans of all teams have been colourful and passionate but also sporting and very well-behaved,” the spokesperson said.
“Nothing has happened to suggest this should change.
“We encourage fans from Iran and Iraq to attend the quarter-final in great numbers, to enjoy the football, to cheer on their teams and to do so in a sporting manner – just as they have been doing for the whole tournament.
“This is what watching sport in Australia is all about.”
More than 63,000 people have attended the six games in Canberra so far, including a sold-out crowd of just over 18,000 to see China beat North Korea 2-1.
Iraq finished second in its group behind Japan and is trying to make its record two out three cups – it hoisted the trophy aloft in 2007.
It’s been a far longer wait for Iran, which is aiming to break a 39-year drought after winning three successive tournaments from 1968 to 1976.
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said it was important to try to take the emotion out of the game.
“It’s not easy,” he said. “I said to my boys this morning, ‘It’s everything for the winner and nothing for the loser’. The most important thing is to be focused and concentrated in our duties and our tasks.”
Iran is the top-ranked team in Asia at 51st in the world and hasn’t conceded a goal in the tournament through its opening three games.
Shenaishil said it wasn’t fair his team had one day fewer for preparation than Iran for the quarter-final and believed it should be changed for future tournaments.
He also said the instability and conflict in Iraq would be a positive for his team’s performance.
“It gives us more of a push to bring happiness and a positive result to our country in this competition,” Shenaishil said.
“There’s history between the two teams. I want to see a quality match and give the right impression of the football in Asia.”
The winner of the Iran-Iraq quarter-final will play either South Korea or Uzbekistan in the first semi-final at Sydney on Australia Day.