Adnan Darjal, President of the Iraqi Football Federation, has lifted the penalty imposed on player Muntazar al-Majed, who plays for the Swedish club Hammarby. The penalty was imposed on him last month for refusing to join the Iraqi national team in the Asian playoff match for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Sources quoted Arnold as confirming that "the player Muntazar al-Majed made a mistake, and he has certainly learned from that mistake. The Iraqi national team needs all its players for the upcoming stage, especially in the World Cup playoff." Darjal's decision came at the special request of Australian coach Graham Arnold, the head coach of the "Lions of the Euphrates" national team.
