The President of the Referees Committee of the Iraqi Football Association, Nijah Rahim, has announced the temporary suspension of international referee Mohammed Tariq Ahmed due to a tattoo that the committee has repeatedly asked him to cover up during matches.
Rahim stated that "We have asked the international referee Mohammed Tariq more than once to cover up the tattoo during matches, but he refuses. While there may not be a legal prohibition against such things, they are not part of our traditions and customs and sometimes add pressure to the match atmosphere. Therefore, we decided to suspend him temporarily, not as a disciplinary action but as a chance for correction and review."
![An image depicting the tweets from Iraq Sport and Iraq FPG Twitter accounts with a mention of the referee's suspension]{https://t.co/ADydFJSNDu}
Furthermore, Rahim added, "International referee Mohammed Tariq Ahmed is a talented and significant referee with a promising future in officiating, and we hope that he does not jeopardize his future because of such appearances."
From the referee's side, Mohammed Tariq remarked, "The tattoos I have are not racially indicative; the lion tattoo and the map of Iraq represent the symbolism of Iraqis." Tariq further clarified that "the Iraqi constitution does not prohibit tattoos, and neither do the legal provisions approved by FIFA as long as the tattoo does not convey a racist message. I have filed a complaint with the Iraqi Union and will pursue a lawsuit on this matter in court."
The international referee, who is the son of the former Secretary-General of the Iraqi Football Association and past President of the Referees Committee, the late Tariq Ahmed, has a lion tattoo on his left thigh and another of the map of Iraq on his chest.
![An additional image relating to the controversy surrounding the referee and his tattoos]{https://t.co/qXIZ45QlFt}
The referee Mohammed Tariq explains that "the tattoos I wear do not carry any racial indications, as both the lion and the map of Iraq tattoos represent symbols appreciated by Iraqis."
He added that "the Iraqi constitution, as well as the statutes endorsed by the International Federation (FIFA) on this matter, do not prohibit it as long as the tattoo does not deliver any racist message. I have submitted a grievance to the Iraqi Football Association and will be filing a lawsuit regarding this issue in a court."
The case of Mohammed Tariq Ahmed has stirred conversations about cultural traditions, regulations, and the personal expression of individuals in professional settings. The eventual outcomes of the referee's pending legal actions could set precedents for similar situations in the region.
