Real Madrid to wear black armbands after attack in Iraq kills 16 supporters

An atrocity in Iraq was tragically intertwined with football Friday when an attack on a Real Madrid supporters' club killed 16 and left over 20 injured.

The attack came only two days after a string of car-bomb attacks in Baghdad marked the Iraqi capital's deadliest day this year.

The shooting took place at a cafe in the Shiite-majority city of Balad, according to Marca's Jason Pettigrove, which is located 94 kilometres north of Baghdad. The coffee shop is reportedly where members of the supporters' club usually meet, and Al-Amaq News alleged ISIS is responsible for the attack.

From Real Madrid's official website:

Real Madrid C. F. deeply regrets the terrible attack in Iraq which today saw 16 members of a Real Madrid supporters club lose their lives and which has also left over 20 injured.

The club expresses its great sadness and offers its regards and condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

Real Madrid extends all of its solidarity to the people of Iraq, who suffer the excessive injustices of extreme violence.

The Real Madrid players will tomorrow wear symbolic black armbands as a sign of their mourning and respect. Football and sport shall always be spaces in which to come together and in which harmony and peace reign and with which no form of barbaric terrorism will be able to compete.

Today Madridismo across the whole world cries for its supporters, who shall never be forgotten.

La Liga was also quick to express its sadness at the attack, publishing a photo of a black ribbon attached to Real Madrid's crest.

Real Madrid will visit Deportivo La Coruna on the final matchday of the La Liga season Saturday, needing three points to be crowned champion should Barcelona drop points at Granada CF.