FIFA threaten Iraq with expulsion
Reuters - Tuesday 17 November 2009, 13:32
Asian Cup holders Iraq face being
kicked out of world football after the country's football
association was disbanded by a rival sports authority, governing
body FIFA said on Tuesday.
"FIFA has learnt that the Iraqi Olympic Committee announced
the dissolution of the governing board of the Iraqi Football
Association (IFA)," a FIFA statement said.
"The basis on which such a decision could be taken is
incomprehensible to FIFA. This stands in total contradiction
with IFA and FIFA statutes."
The leaders of Iraq's Olympic committee and the Iraqi
Football Association have been embroiled in a power struggle for
control of the sport for at least a year.
Olympic committee members blame the IFA for a continuing
FIFA ban on Iraq hosting international matches due to lingering
insecurity.
FIFA this year allowed Iraq to host its first friendlies
since the 2003 US-led invasion, and Iraq beat Palestine in two
matches played in the northern city of Arbil and in Baghdad. But
the general ban remains in place.
The Olympic committee has demanded the IFA elect a new
governing board but the football federation has refused to do so.
Olympic committee members were enraged when FIFA intervened to
extend the mandate of the IFA's board.
"We will not reverse our decision to disband the Iraqi
Soccer Federation," Samir al-Moussawi, an official of the
Olympic committee, told Reuters, adding the panel would
endeavour to explain its position to FIFA.
Iraq has been given 72 hours to restore the IFA or the
matter will be referred to the FIFA Emergency Committee which
would almost certainly result in suspension.
"FIFA appeals once more to all stakeholders in Iraq to
respect the autonomy of sport in general and the IFA in
particular and to allow IFA to conduct its affairs according its
statutes and those of FIFA," the statement added.
The deputy head of the IFA, Najih Hmoud, said the Olympic
committee's actions were "illegitimate and illegal".
"This decision is wrong and damages the public interest of
Iraq," he said.