An Iraqi Real Madrid supporter had to pay a fan of rival Barcelona $1,700 (1,215 euros) after a row over a disallowed Champions League goal was resolved by their tribes, a relative said Monday. The two-million Iraqi dinar fine settled the dispute that erupted after a controversial decision to rule out a goal by Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain for a foul by team-mate Christiano Ronaldo in the second leg of the Spanish clubs' May 3 Champions League semi-final in Barcelona.
Haidar Samir, a 25-year-old Madrid supporter, and Hassan Attar, a 23-year-old civil servant and Barcelona fan, got into the argument while watching the match in a cafe in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah. "They argued about whether the goal was valid or not, and they began to insult each other and fight," said Haidar al-Hamdani, a cousin of Haidar Samir.