FIFA Suspends Iraq For One Year

[BAGGIO 15]

FIFA has suspended Iraq from international competition for one year.
The decision comes after the Iraqi government dissolved the country's National Olympic Committee as well as various sports federations.

The world governing body is in Sydney for its executive committee meeting.

FIFA has agreed to lift the ban if the Iraqi government reverses its decision by midnight on Thursday, Australia time.

If not, Iraq, who became Asian champions in 2007, will miss the rest of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers and be unable to participate in the Beijing Olympics later this year.

Ironically, Iraq are due to face Australia this Saturday for a qualification match for South Africa 2010 World Cup.

"... I'm very confident, more than hopeful, that the situation will change,” FIFA chief Sepp Blatter told reporters before the ban was announced.

"Can you imagine the reaction of the (Iraqi) people if we had to suspend them from football? I think the minister should think twice about what he has done."

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World soccer's governing body will decide on Tuesday in Sydney whether to ban the Socceroos' group opponents Iraq from all competitions after the Iraqi government dismantled the nation's soccer association last week.

That would mean Australia's World Cup qualifiers against Iraq in Brisbane on Sunday and in Dubai on June 7 would not be played and the Socceroos would be awarded wins on forfeit.

With an extra six points guaranteed, it would virtually ensure the Socceroos - currently leading their group - advance to the next phase of Asian World Cup qualifying as one of the top two teams in the group.

Short-term it would cost Football Federation Australia (FFA) millions of dollars in lost gate receipts for the Brisbane match.

But a virtual saloon passage to the next stage of World Cup qualification starting later this year would provide at least four more home games, a long-term financial windfall for the game and bring the Socceroos a step closer to the 2010 finals in South Africa.

Despite the tempting upside for Australia if Iraq are banished from world football, Schwarzer and Kewell were united in their support for the Iraq games to go ahead.

"We'd prefer to play," said Schwarzer.

"We've got two important games after Iraq and we want to keep the momentum going."

"I don't think anyone knows what's happening at the moment. Until such time elapses ... we'll just prepare as normal."

"I don't think you can afford to look at it any other way, otherwise the uncertainty will affect your preparation."

But Kewell said if FIFA did decide to ban Iraq, it would not make the Socceroos' advancement a hollow victory.

"At the end of the day it's not our decision if they rule them out of the competition. It's not our fault," said Kewell.

"They could have been in any group and it could have helped any other team. But again, we're concentrating and hopefully we play them on Sunday. I know I want to play them on Sunday."

Australia have not yet played Iraq in the group, so would be the major beneficiaries with six gift-wrapped points if they are banned.

China, which drew with Iraq in February, and Qatar, which beat Iraq in their clash last month, would get three points each for the matches they have not yet played.

FIFA's executive committee is expected to hand down a decision on Iraq's future after it meets in Sydney on Tuesday ahead of this week's FIFA Congress.

But Iraq's sports minister said on Monday his country would not back down from the decision to dismantle the soccer association even if it led to them being thrown out of the World Cup.

"We have received a letter from FIFA regarding the participation of Iraq in the World and Asian soccer competition," Sports Minister Jasem Mohammed Jaafar told Reuters.

"We have replied to them (FIFA) in a formal letter yesterday, telling them that the disbanding ... doesn't cover the sports federations in which the soccer federation is included."

"If FIFA insists on banning Iraq from participating in the next World Cup competition, the government won't pull back from its decision ... for the sake of a football match."

FFA chief executive Ben Buckley agreed with Kewell and Schwarzer, saying he would prefer politics not dictate whether the Socceroos advanced to the last stage of Asian qualifying.

"We'd prefer to play both games and win qualification on our merits, rather than have politics play a part," said Buckley.

The Iraqi team are due to arrive in Brisbane on Tuesday night from Thailand, where they have been preparing for the match.

[the_gun]

this is really huge, we'll see wot happens i guess.

[Redders]

Ive already got tickets booked for brisbane. I will be well pissed off if this game is postponed or cancelled!

Anyone else going to brisbane?

[Missing Post Count]

Ive already got tickets booked for brisbane. I will be well pissed off if this game is postponed or cancelled!
Anyone else going to brisbane?

After Lebanon the year before last, no.