Joined
·
528 Posts
With three days to go before a vital 2010 World Cup qualifier, FIFA has provisionally lifted the one year international ban on Iraq.
Iraq will now be able to face Australia on Sunday in a qualification match for the 2010 World Cup. The two teams meet again six days later.
“This is great news,†Football Federation Australia chief executive officer Ben Buckley said in a statement.
“We're truly delighted that the Iraqi Government, the Iraq FA and FIFA have sorted out the issues between them and the Socceroos and Iraq can get on the field to play this important World Cup qualifying match on Sunday.â€
FIFA suspended Iraq on Monday after the Iraqi government dissolved the country's National Olympic Committee as well as various sports federations.
Subsequently, the world governing body received a letter from Baghdad confirming that Iraqi Football Association was exempt from the dissolution decree.
FIFA also announced that it still has concerns about political interference in Iraqi football and the decision to lift the ban is a conditional and provisional one.
Iraq, with one point from two Group One games, need a result in Brisbane. Australia sit in top spot with four points.
Iraq will now be able to face Australia on Sunday in a qualification match for the 2010 World Cup. The two teams meet again six days later.
“This is great news,†Football Federation Australia chief executive officer Ben Buckley said in a statement.
“We're truly delighted that the Iraqi Government, the Iraq FA and FIFA have sorted out the issues between them and the Socceroos and Iraq can get on the field to play this important World Cup qualifying match on Sunday.â€
FIFA suspended Iraq on Monday after the Iraqi government dissolved the country's National Olympic Committee as well as various sports federations.
Subsequently, the world governing body received a letter from Baghdad confirming that Iraqi Football Association was exempt from the dissolution decree.
FIFA also announced that it still has concerns about political interference in Iraqi football and the decision to lift the ban is a conditional and provisional one.
Iraq, with one point from two Group One games, need a result in Brisbane. Australia sit in top spot with four points.