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FIFA bans Iraq from international play

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-21 08:40

PARIS - World soccer governing body FIFA announced its decision on Friday to suspend the Iraq from playing international matches for the sake of "government interference".

"In accordance with FIFA statutes, the clubs and representative teams of Iraq are no longer permitted to take part in international matches, whether friendly or competitive," read a statement on the FIFA website.

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Despite FIFA's decision, Iraq's women's under-16 team will be allowed to compete in a youth tournament organized by the Norwegian football federation that is due to take place in Jordan from November 22-29.

On Tuesday, FIFA gave the authorities in Baghdad a 72-hour ultimatum to reinstate the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) or risk suspension from international soccer.

Police on Wednesday seized control of the IFA's offices after its governing board was dissolved on charges of links to former president Saddam Hussein.

FIFA said that the current members of the IFA's Executive Committee were "the sole recognized interlocutors for FIFA" and called for them to be "rapidly reinstated".

The Iraqi government described the decision as unjust.

Soccer is highly popular in Iraq and its importance was boosted by the national side's victory in the 2007 Asian Cup.

FIFA has expressed growing concern about possible political interference in the sport in Iraq. In September, it gave the IFA until April 30, 2010 to elect a new board.

Iraq was briefly suspended from international soccer in May 2008, after the government dissolved the national Olympic Committee. It was reinstated only after the government said the IFA had not been affected.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had also suspended Iraq's Olympic Committee from international competition, but that row was resolved shortly before the 2008 Beijing Olympics.