Iraq coach after storming the stadium: I apologize and feel sorry for Ayman Hussein

Montenegrin coach Jeliko Petrovic stole the spotlight in the first round of the Arab Football Cup yesterday in Qatar, when he stormed the pitch to prevent his player Ayman Hussein from repaying a penalty kick he missed, before he apologized to him in the dressing room.

While the Iraqi national team was late in front of the Sultanate of Oman with a penalty kick by Salah Al Yahyai also (78) in the first group at Al Janoub Stadium, the "Rafidain Lions" got a penalty at the deadly time.

Ayman Hussein hit her in the sixth minute of the time instead of lost, but he missed it.

While he was preparing to implement it again after the referee asked to return it because the Omani goalkeeper moved early on the goal line, Petrovich stormed the field in a strange scene, asking the young Hassan Abdul Karim to implement it.

Abdul Karim managed to score, giving Iraq a tie point, which had been completing the match with ten players since the 68th minute after Yasser Qassem was sent off.

In the dressing rooms after the match, Petrovic, who had replaced Dutchman Dick Advocaat, who had resigned from his position, appeared in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, and apologized to Hussein.

"I made a big mistake. I apologized in front of the media to Ayman. I feel sorry for Ayman. It is difficult to explain how difficult it would be if he missed the penalty again," Petrovich said in English, standing next to an interpreter who conveyed his speech in Arabic to the players.

"Ayman is a professional player and I appreciate this. I am not satisfied with myself."

Iraq will play its next match against Bahrain, which lost its opening match against host Qatar, 0-1.

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