Dream of Iraqi soccer standout becomes another war casualty

LOS ANGELES TIMES

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi soccer phenom Nashat Akram’s face graces hundreds of posters plastered around Baghdad.

But in recent days, he had been poised to do what no Iraqi player has done before: sign a professional contract with a top team in Britain’s Premier League — a trailblazing move that many people predicted would open the “golden door” for future soccer stars.

The only thing standing in his way was a work permit.

Last week, British officials denied that permit for a second time, consigning Akram to the same fate as thousands of other Iraqis, his dreams another casualty of war.

As the news spread across soccer-crazed Iraq on Saturday, fans reacted with anger and disbelief. Iraqi government and sports officials vowed to appeal and threatened to launch large-scale protests for all the world to see.

But Manchester City Football Club said the government’s rejection of the appeal was based on a technicality.

The Iraqi national team has not played against any of the world’s top 20 teams recently and its two-year average rank is 71.

To meet the professional requirements of the visa, the team needs to be ranked in the top 70.

Despite the low ranking, the team won the Asia Cup last year and placed fourth in the 2004 Olympics.

The only way to move up in the rankings is to play more games, but because of the war, it has been impossible to serve as host at home matches.

The 24-year-old midfielder is considered a rising star capable of creating scoring opportunities. He had been playing for the Al-Ain club in the United Arab Emirates, but Manchester City reportedly bought out the remainder of his contract for $800,000.