Iraq in shock after football hero Radhi dies from coronavirus
Ahmed Radhi, 56, one of the country's most celebrated sportsperson, dies from complications linked to Covid-19, health ministry says.
Iraqi football legend Ahmed Radhi has died from complications linked to Covid-19, just hours before he was to be flown for treatment in Jordan, exploding fans in grief.
He had been hospitalised last week in Baghdad after testing positive for coronavirus but had checked out on Thursday after his condition improved.
But he relapsed a few hours later and was readmitted but passed away early on Sunday, the health ministry said.
In a video reportedly from his hospital bed on Saturday, Radhi could be seen struggling to breathe as medics in full protective gear try to treat him.
"Sometimes it's hard to breathe but that's normal," he could be heard telling the medical team, his voice strained.
مراسم دفن الكابتن احمد راضي في مقبرة الكرخ
— العراق سبورت (@IrqSport) June 21, 2020
الرحمة والغفران على روحك الطاهرة ، pic.twitter.com/soqlk6S90w
Heroics on ground
Radhi, 56, scored what remains Iraq's only World Cup finals goal in 1986 against Belgium.
Radhi, a striker, led Iraq to victory in the Gulf Cups of 1984 and 1988 when he was voted Asian footballer of the year.
In the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, he scored against Belgium but Iraq went on to lose the match 2-1 and exited the tournament in the group stage without a point.
Ahmed Radhi scored 62 goals in 121 caps for #Iraq, including the nation’s only goal at the FIFA World Cup against #Belgium in 1984. #RIP #احمد_راضي_في_ذمة_الله pic.twitter.com/Ey1AIZhFQB
— Raveen Aujmaya (@raveenaujmaya) June 21, 2020
He fled Iraq in 2006 after its Olympic Committee head was kidnapped during the height of the sectarian violence that followed the US-led invasion of 2003.
Radhi moved with his family to the Jordanian capital Amman but returned to Iraq in 2007 for a career in politics, replacing a member of parliament who defected to join the bloody insurgency raging across the country.
He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2014 and 2018 elections with the National Alliance, a coalition of Sunni and Shia figures.
Ahmed Radhi
— #IRAQesque (@Iraqesque) June 21, 2020
Footballer
Baghdad 21/4/1964 - 21/6/2020
A legend forward striker.
One of Iraq's best athletes of all-time.
Scored against Belgium in FIFA World Cup 1986.
1988 Asian player of the year.
Died of Covid-19#IRAQesque pic.twitter.com/hc3ltTLPdf
Fans in shock
When news of his death broke, football fans in Iraq exploded in grief.
"With great sadness and sorrow, we mourn our lifelong companion, our fans' ardent star, the unrivalled athlete and son of Iraq, Ahmed Radhi," said Iraq's new sports minister Adnan Darjal, himself a former football star.
"Farewell, Abu Faisal, goodbye to my brother Ahmed Radhi," wrote former star and Iraqi League President Hussein Saeed.
The director of Jordan's Football Association Ali Al Hussein said the world had lost "a sports star whom we cherish and are proud of".
Iraq has registered nearly 30,000 cases of the coronavirus and deaths topped 1,000 earlier this week.
The country's health system –– worn down by years of conflict and insufficient maintenance –– has been overwhelmed by the spiking numbers.