Iraqi club Karma disputes Mosul's foreign-player complaint

AL ANBAR, Iraq — Karma sports club has issued a formal response to allegations that it fielded six foreign players during a match against Mosul, saying one of the disputed athletes holds Iraqi citizenship and is registered as a domestic player in the country's football system. The club identified the player as Muhammad Hasan Abu Hashish, stating that he is the son of a Jordanian father and an Iraqi mother, holds Iraqi national identification and an Iraqi passport, and was previously registered as a domestic player with Zakho club. According to the club, Abu Hashish also appears in the Iraqi Football Federation's database as a citizen player, with foreign players listed in a separate category. Karma added that Abu Hashish's appearances for Jordan's national team do not affect his status under Iraqi league rules. The club said the player registration arrangement is used in several leagues and that no competition regulations were violated in the match against Mosul. Mosul club filed a complaint citing the player's representation of Jordan, arguing that Karma fielded six foreign players in breach of match rules. No further decision on the complaint had been announced.