ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – At least 30 people were injured after football fans stormed the pitch during a match in the Iraq Stars League in Sulaimani on Tuesday evening, leading to violent altercations.

In the final minutes of the match between Newroz and Zakho, taking place in the former’s stadium in Sulaimani, violent clashes broke out between fans of the two sides. The clashes erupted after the referee ruled out a goal by Zakho for offside in the 79th minute.

Fans of the two teams began by throwing various objects at each other, before storming the pitch and escalating the violence, leading to the match’s suspension.

"The unwanted situation has been controlled and police forces are on the field to normalize the situation and protect the lives of players and fans," read a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) interior ministry, adding that an investigation into the incident has been launched.

Sulaimani's Shar Hospital confirmed that they have received at least 30 cases of injuries as a result of the altercations, with the number expected to rise.

Newroz International Stadium has a capacity of 14,500 spectators. The New Region has learned that hundreds of the venue’s seats were damaged during the clashes.

The fixture was in the Iraq Stars League matchday 29 and ended in a 0-0 draw. Zakho currently ranks third place in the league, while Newroz sits at the 13^th place.