Former Brazil football star Zico has resigned as coach of Iraq’s national team, saying the country’s football association has failed to abide by the terms of his contract.
“I have sent an official communication to FIFA and IFA (Iraq Football Association) saying that I consider my contract void because IFA has failed to fulfil its conditions,” he wrote in a statement on his website.
“I will give further details soon.” Zico, 59, who has only been coaching the Iraq team since 2011, was supposed to take them to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
In the qualifiers Iraq is currently third in Asia’s Group B, with five points after five matches. It is behind Australia only because of goal difference.
The first and second teams in each group qualify automatically, while the third team goes to the playoffs.
