The 2012–13 Iraqi Elite League was the 39th season of the competition since its establishment in 1974. The season began on 19 October 2012 and finished on 4 September 2013. Al-Shorta were crowned champions for the third time, finishing on 72 points, two points ahead of nearest competitors Erbil.
Having only managed a seventh-place finish in the previous season, Al-Shorta's results improved significantly under the presidency of Ayad Bunyan and they were able to outperform favourites Erbil, Duhok, Al-Zawraa and Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya.[1]
On the final day of the season, three teams were all still in the race for the title. Al-Shorta needed a win against Al-Talaba to secure the league, whilst Erbil had to defeat Al-Najaf and hope that Al-Shorta failed to win their game if they wanted to retain their title. Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya needed both Al-Shorta and Erbil to slip up and needed to defeat Masafi Al-Wasat by a large goal margin in order for them to go home with the trophy.
All three teams ended up winning their respective matches, making Al-Shorta the champions. It was the club's first league title since the 1997–98 season.[2]
SWAT incident
On 23 June 2013, after a match with Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, seven football players of Karbala and their manager were beaten by the anti-terror police. They used sticks and batons against the eight men.
Five of them were in critical condition, and on June 30, Mohammed Abbas Al-Jabouri, the club's manager, died in hospital.[3] Several teams refused to play their matches in round 25 as a result of the incident.
Source: Soccerway Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. (C) Champions; (R) Relegated Notes:
^ abAl-Kahrabaa and Naft Al-Junoob refused to play each other in round 25 after the hospitalisation of Karbala's coach Mohammed Abbas Al-Jabouri. On July 27, before round 30, the IFA decided not to deduct either team any points.
Source: Soccerway Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. Notes:
^ abcdAl-Talaba, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and Al-Najaf were awarded 3–0 wins in round 25 because their respective opponents Sulaymaniya, Kirkuk and Amanat Baghdad all withdrew following the hospitalisation of Karbala's manager Mohammed Abbas Al-Jabouri. Meanwhile, the Al-Kahrabaa–Naft Al-Junoob match from the same round was not held as both teams refused to play the game.
^The Al-Minaa–Kirkuk match was awarded as a 3–0 win to Al-Minaa, as Kirkuk did not turn up for the game.
^The Al-Zawraa–Al-Sinaa match was awarded as a 3–0 win to Al-Zawraa, as Al-Sinaa refused to play the game in protest at the IFA reversing its punishment of Al-Zawraa fans and allowing them to attend the game.
^The Erbil–Karbala match was awarded as a 3–0 win to Erbil, as Karbala did not turn up for the game.