FIFA suspends Iraq for political meddling

November 21, 2009 09:42 am | Updated November 17, 2021 06:39 am IST - ZURICH

FIFA suspended Iraq from world football on Friday because of political interference in the national federation.

Football's world governing body said it was “unacceptable” for Iraq's Olympic committee to disband the federation this week for alleged financial and administrative irregularities.

FIFA's emergency committee, led by President Sepp Blatter, imposed the suspension after Iraq missed an overnight deadline to reinstate the federation and hand back the headquarters which were seized by government security forces.

“The clubs and representative teams of Iraq are no longer permitted to take part in international matches, whether friendly or competitive,'' FIFA said in a statement.

However, FIFA said Iraq's under-16 girl's team can play in a weeklong tournament in Jordan starting on Sunday.

FIFA rules require full independence of national associations.

Iraqi Olympic board member Samir al-Moussawi said on Friday the committee was standing by its decision.

“We will continue our contacts with FIFA officials and we will provide them with evidence to support our claims,'' al-Moussawi told The Associated Press. “Anyhow, Iraqi football teams have no international activities in the next three months and we hope that during this period we will be able to resolve our differences with FIFA.”

Iraqi football has had a troubled relationship with FIFA since its popularity peaked with a victory in the 2007 Asian Cup.

Last year, FIFA imposed a ban on Iraqi teams after the government dissolved the national Olympic committee, along with all sports federations.

The ban threatened Iraq's participation in World Cup qualifiers but was lifted after the government assured FIFA that football was excluded from the decision.

Last month, FIFA granted the Iraq Football Association until April 30, 2010, to adopt new statutes and elect a new board, stressing that the process had to be independent and free of government interference.

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