The Oman Football Association (OFA) announced the return of the fans at Basra International Airport to the Sultanate of Oman.
The decision comes, according to the statement, after consultation with the competent authorities in the Sultanate of Oman, to ensure the safety of the Omani fans and to support the Iraq team in hosting the final.
OFA also called on the Omani fans present in the vicinity of the stadium not to come to the stadium as the stands designated for the fans are fully occupied.
The final match will take place in Basra on Thursday as scheduled despite a deadly stampede outside the stadium just hours earlier.
In a statement by the Foreign Ministry, the Sultanate of Oman expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the government and people of the Republic of Iraq and to the families of the victims in the stampede incident around the Arabian Gulf Cup final stadium in the city of Basra and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
The match between the Iraqi and Omani national teams will take place as scheduled,” the Iraqi Football Association said. “We call on honorable fans to refrain from coming to the match stadium because the stands are completely full.”
Earlier on Thursday, a stampede near the Jaza’a Al Nakhla Stadium – where Iraq and Oman were expected to play in the Arabian Gulf Cup final – killed one person and injured at least 60 others.
Thousands of fans had gathered in and around the stadium hours before the kickoff in an effort to watch the match.
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