January 29 – With Iraqi emotions running high after the team were bundled out of the Asian Cup in heartbreaking fashion, surrendering two goals in added time, manager Jesus Casas felt the force of Iraqi press.
In his post match press conference Casas was barraged with insults from the Iraqi media who blamed him for the loss. It was not the first time the Iraqi press have targeted Casas, but it was the first time the venom had reached the level of physical threat.
Opting to speak his native Spanish so he could convey his emotions more clearly during the conference, Casas attempted to tame the furious Iraqi press, but with little success.
Battling against a flurry of insults and pointing fingers, Casas was unable to squeeze a word in about his team’s disappointing defeat, his words drowned out by shouts of Iraqi disapproval.
The Spaniard remained respectably composed in the face of impending violence.
As security stepped in to settle the crowd, Casas said: “It’s important we stay calm and learn from this. It’s difficult to put into words – a sad result that we must work on.”
Before he was able to properly finish his sentence, the wall of Iraqi press manning the front seats of the conference lurched forward, spurring security into action as chaos ensued in the stadium press centre.
As the Iraqi media continued to misbehave they were forced out of the room, but this did little to silence their discontent with Casas’ management, despite his side’s flawless group stage which included a statement win versus Japan.
Banging and shouting could be still be heard from outside the press room in the aftermath of the press conference, which never quite met its resolution with Casas leaving the room shortly afterwards.
Publicly Iraqi football has returned to a dark place, even after the team’s stellar group performances.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1727119177labto1727119177ofdlr1727119177owedi1727119177sni@g1727119177niwe.1727119177yrrah1727119177
