Iraq’s Zidane Iqbal addresses Kuwait fans over mockery of his Pakistani father

Iraq footballer Zidane Iqbal has addressed Kuwait supporters, saying he was mocked because his father is Pakistani.

“They mocked me because my father is Pakistani,” Iqbal said, drawing attention to abuse directed at his family background.

Several social media posts framed what happened as part of fierce football rivalry that can extend beyond the pitch.

At the same time, those posts rejected insults aimed at players and their families, as well as bringing their private lives into the game.

The reactions drew a distinction between intense sporting competition and personal abuse, particularly when it targets a player’s relatives or heritage.