1970–71 Iraq Central FA Premier League

The 1970–71 Iraq Central FA Premier League was the 23rd season of the Iraq Central FA Premier League (the top division of football in Baghdad and its neighbouring cities from 1948 to 1973). Eight teams competed in the tournament, which was played in a double round-robin format.

Iraq Central FA Premier League
Season1970–71
ChampionsMaslahat Naqil Al-Rukab
(4th title)
RelegatedAl-Quwa Al-Siyara
1971–72
(Iraq Central FA First Division)

After returning from the 1971 Asian Champion Club Tournament, Aliyat Al-Shorta had two games in hand against Al-Sikak Al-Hadeed and Al-Mushat, and they had to win both games to win the league.[1] Al-Sikak Al-Hadeed managed to go 2–0 up in the first half through two goals from Ali Kadhim. Aliyat Al-Shorta then scored twice in the last ten minutes through Douglas Aziz and Tariq Aziz but the game ended 2–2, giving Maslahat Naqil Al-Rukab their fourth league title.[2]

Aliyat Al-Shorta's 5–0 win over Al-Quwa Al-Siyara during the second half of the season was annulled by the Iraqi Olympic Committee due to suspicions of match fixing, as both teams belonged to the same institution (the Iraqi Police).[3] Al-Quwa Al-Siyara were relegated to the third-tier as punishment, while Aliyat Al-Shorta, who denied any wrongdoing, missed out on two points that would have won them the title.[4][5]

League table edit

Pos Team Pts
1 Maslahat Naqil Al-Rukab 20
2 Aliyat Al-Shorta 19
3 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 16
4 Al-Sikak Al-Hadeed 14
5 Al-Firqa Al-Thalitha 13
6 Kahrabaa Al-Wusta
7 Al-Mushat
8 Al-Quwa Al-Siyara
  League Champions
  Relegated to Iraq Central FA Second Division

Known results edit

Home \ Away FTH ASH MUS QWJ QWS SIK KAH MAS
Al-Firqa Al-Thalitha [a] 4–1 1–1 0–0 1–1
Aliyat Al-Shorta 2–1 2–0 0–1 [b] 2–1 0–1 1–0
Al-Mushat 1–4
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 2–2 2–0 1–1
Al-Quwa Al-Siyara 1–2 2–1 1–1
Al-Sikak Al-Hadeed 2–2 6–3 2–0 1–1
Kahrabaa Al-Wusta 1–0[c] [a] 0–0 1–3
Maslahat Naqil Al-Rukab 1–0 1–1 2–0 2–1 4–1
Source: Ali Al-Sabti Archive
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. ^ a b The match ended in a win for Aliyat Al-Shorta.
  2. ^ The Aliyat Al-Shorta–Al-Quwa Al-Siyara match ended in a 5–0 win for Aliyat Al-Shorta but the result was later annulled due to suspicions of match fixing, as both teams belonged to the same institution (the Iraqi Police).
  3. ^ The Kahrabaa Al-Wusta–Al-Firqa Al-Thalitha match originally ended in a 0–0 draw but was changed to a 1–0 win for Kahrabaa Al-Wusta due to the referee incorrectly disallowing a goal for Kahrabaa Al-Wusta.

References edit

  1. ^ Iraq 1970/71
  2. ^ Al-Sabti, Ali. Iraqi League History 1956-1974. Iraq.
  3. ^ Douglas Aziz interview 2012
  4. ^ Douglas Aziz interview 2015
  5. ^ صفحات من تاريخ كرة القدم العراقية , عش رجبا ترى عجبا !!!

External links edit