Iraqi Soccer Champ Fears for His Life
One might expect that Iraqi soccer star Younis Mahmoud (pictured, center), who scored the winning goal for his country in Sunday's Asian Cup finals game against Saudi Arabia, would have a hero's welcome waiting for him at home. Instead, Mahmoud plans to steer clear of his country for fear of being killed, and he voices the hope that American troops will withdraw as soon as possible.
One might expect that Iraqi soccer star Younis Mahmoud, who scored the winning goal for his country in Sunday’s Asian Cup finals game against Saudi Arabia, would have a hero’s welcome waiting for him at home. Instead, Mahmoud plans to steer clear of his country for fear of being killed, and he voices the hope that American troops will withdraw as soon as possible.
TRUTHDIG’S JOURNALISM REMAINS CLEAREvening Standard:
“I don’t want the Iraqi people to be angry with me,” he said. “But, if I go back with the team, anybody could kill me or try to hurt me.
“One of my closest friends, they (the authorities) came to arrest him and for one year neither me nor his family knew where he was.
“I want America to go out,” he said. “Today, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, but out. I wish the American people didn’t invade Iraq and hopefully it will be over soon.”
The storytellers of chaos tried to manipulate the political and media narrative in 2025, but independent journalism exposed what they tried to hide. When you read Truthdig, you see through the illusion.
Support Independent Journalism.
Sports
In Green Bay, the chant “We own you” has a double meaning.
The commander in chief is the presidential version of a football head coach, leading the way into maybe not just the end zone, but The End.
Here are the six ways in which football prepared us for Trumpball and is still trying to keep us in its grasp.
A black Idaho man is accused of purposefully causing a collision that killed a woman in a case with racial undertones.
While he says he's not an activist, safety Antone Exum is eager to make his voice heard on his new song "Officer Kaepernick."
Our increasingly decaying civic society has leaked into the professional sports world. Now, an even more perverse reversal is taking place.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.