Younis Mahmoud elected Iraq Football Association president
Younis Mahmoud won the Iraq Football Association presidency with 38 votes to Adnan Dirjal’s 20 in a Baghdad election held under FIFA and AFC supervision, sparking dispute and calls for clarity.
Mahmoud secures presidency in Baghdad vote
Younis Mahmoud was declared the winner of the Iraq Football Association presidential election at a session held on Saturday in the Al-Rashid Hotel conference hall in Baghdad.
The vote, supervised by representatives of the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA, ended with Mahmoud receiving 38 ballots to Adnan Dirjal’s 20.
The result marks a change in leadership after four years under Dirjal, and transfers formal control of the governing body to the former international striker.
Officials present described the atmosphere as tense as the final count was announced.
Vote count and immediate outcomes
Election officials released the final tally following a supervised count that closed the voting round in the evening session.
The 38–20 margin reflected ballots cast by delegates representing clubs and sporting bodies across Iraq.
With the result certified in the hall, Mahmoud immediately assumed the official duties of the president pending any procedural challenges.
The transfer of authority was signalled by administrative confirmations made in the presence of AFC and FIFA delegates.
Tense scenes as former president reacts
When results were announced, outgoing president Adnan Dirjal left the venue visibly upset, according to eyewitnesses inside the conference room.
Several attendees reported strong reactions from some delegates and a charged atmosphere that lasted several minutes after the declaration.
Media inside the hall relayed images and accounts of Dirjal departing without delivering remarks, and some participants expressed concerns about how the process unfolded.
Organisers urged calm and reiterated that the election was overseen externally to ensure compliance with international governance standards.
Oversight by FIFA and AFC highlighted
Both the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA were present to observe the proceedings and to lend legitimacy to the electoral process.
Their supervision was intended to ensure the vote met international statutes and to help restore confidence in the administration of the sport within Iraq.
Representatives from these organisations monitored ballot handling and counting, and their presence was noted by multiple delegates as a necessary step toward transparent governance.
The involvement of FIFA and the AFC follows previous recommendations aimed at strengthening institutional procedures in member associations.
Reports of possible legal challenge
Following the announcement, some participants and media sources reported that Adnan Dirjal might pursue a challenge to the election outcome before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Those reports remained unconfirmed at the time of publication, and no official filing had been announced.
Sources close to the former president suggested concerns over procedural transparency, but they provided no formal notice of intent to lodge an appeal.
Any appeal to an external arbitration body would shift the dispute into a legal review of the electoral processes and could suspend some administrative actions depending on the terms of the challenge.
Implications for Iraqi football governance
The change in leadership arrives at a critical moment for Iraqi football, with multiple domestic and regional priorities on the agenda.
Mahmoud inherits responsibilities that include league organisation, national team support, and reforms aimed at improving governance and infrastructure.
Stakeholders, including club officials and league administrators, have signalled a desire for stability and a clear plan to address financial management and youth development.
International partners and confederation bodies will likely monitor the new administration’s early decisions closely to assess compliance with broader reform commitments.
Path forward and expectations
Younis Mahmoud has indicated during the campaign that he prioritises improving domestic competitions and supporting national teams at all levels.
Observers say delivering on those promises will require swift engagement with clubs, the ministry of sport, and international partners to secure resources and technical assistance.
The incoming president faces the dual task of calming internal divisions and setting a transparent agenda to strengthen sporting governance.
How Mahmoud manages any potential legal disputes and coalition-building with delegates will shape the first months of his tenure.
With the formal handover now effective and oversight provided by continental and global bodies, attention will turn to practical steps for implementing reforms and preparing for upcoming competitions.
The election result brings a new administrative chapter for the Iraq Football Association, and stakeholders will be watching closely as Younis Mahmoud begins his term amid calls for transparency, stability and renewed focus on the sport’s development across the country.
