Fan kills player as he goes for goal

An Iraqi football player was shot dead as he was about to score an equaliser.

The striker from the Buhairat amateur team had only the goalkeeper to beat in the match yesterday near Baghdad when a supporter of the rival Sinjar club shot him in the head in the final minute of play.

Sinjar were leading 1-0 when the shooting occurred. Police said a spectator was arrested.

More Iraqis are turning out for sports events now that security is improving. Major matches in Baghdad are heavily guarded but security in amateur games in smaller cities is often lax.