AMMAN: The Jordanian Football Association (JFA) expressed regret on Friday over a widely circulated video on social media that allegedly showed Jordanian fans chanting offensive slogans during a World Cup qualifier between Iraq and Palestine.
The JFA stated that the video was fabricated.
The footage, which claimed to depict Jordanian fans insulting Iraqi players and supporters, began spreading online after Palestine’s 2-1 victory over Iraq at the Amman International Stadium on Tuesday, leading to heated exchanges among fans.
The JFA reaffirmed the strong historical ties between Jordan and Iraq, stating that such relationships could not be harmed by actions that do not reflect true sporting values, the Jordan News Agency reported.
After verifying the video’s inauthenticity, the JFA expressed disappointment over attempts to incite conflict, extremism, and hatred among sports fans. It urged Jordanian supporters to refrain from engaging in online disputes that misrepresent Jordanian values.
The association also commended Jordanian and Iraqi sports journalists for their efforts to debunk the video’s authenticity and discourage people from falling for "provocative and inciteful" content.
Additionally, the JFA highlighted the significant role of Prince Ali bin Hussein, its president, in lifting FIFA’s long-standing ban on international games in Iraq. It recalled that Jordan played Iraq in 2017 in the first international match at Basra International Stadium, marking Iraq’s return to hosting international football after four years.
The JFA concluded: “While we fully support our national team’s pursuit of direct qualification to the World Cup, we emphasize the importance of sportsmanship and the strength of Arab unity.
“We extend our best wishes to all Arab teams in their journey through the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.”