It appears that Iraqi international referee Mohammed Tarek Ahmed is facing a dilemma due to tattoos on his chest and leg. The Chairman of the Referees Committee of the Iraqi Football Association, Najah Rahim, announced the temporary suspension of Ahmed due to these tattoos, which the committee has repeatedly asked him to cover up during matches.
Rahim stated, "We have asked international referee Mohammed Tarek multiple times to cover the tattoo during matches, but he refused." He added, "While these things are not legally forbidden, they do not align with our traditions and customs, and they sometimes create pressure on the atmosphere of the matches. Therefore, we decided to temporarily suspend him, and this is not a disciplinary action as much as it is an opportunity for correction and review," according to Agence France-Presse.
Additionally, Rahim confirmed that "Ahmed is one of the talented and important referees, and he has a bright future in officiating," expressing hope that he would not waste this future.
On the other hand, the suspended referee clarified that his tattoo does not contain any racist symbols, stating, "The lion tattoo and the map of Iraq represent Iraqi symbolism." He also pointed out that "the Iraqi constitution does not prohibit this, in addition to the legal texts established by FIFA in this regard as long as the tattoo does not convey any racist message." He mentioned, "I have filed an appeal with the Iraqi Federation and will also file a lawsuit in one of the courts."
It is noteworthy that the international referee is the son of the late Tarik Ahmed, former Secretary General of the Iraqi Federation and Chairman of the Referees Committee. He has a lion tattoo on his left thigh and a map of Iraq on his chest.
