By David Gold
September 23 – Iraq will play its home qualifying games for the 2014 World Cup and the London 2012 Olympic Games at neutral venues, after FIFA expressed concern over security in the country.
FIFA were alerted to the security issues in the country after a World Cup qualifier with Jordan at the start of September, when Iraq allegedly breached regulations and had too many people in the ground.
There was also a power cut during their 2-0 defeat at the Franso Hariri Stadium, and Iraq will now have to find a neutral ground in Asia to play the qualifying games by the start of October.
The 2007 Asian Cup winners are in third place in a group involving Jordan, China and Singapore for the Brazil 2014 qualifiers, and lost their opening game of Olympic qualifying to Uzbekistan in a group which also includes Australia and the United Arab Emirates.
Iraqi Football Association President Najih Hmoud will step up efforts to reverse the ban, telling Reuters that the city the game took place in, Arbil, is one of the safest places in the country, which is still recovering from the United States-led invasion of 2003, launched after its former dictator Saddam Hussein refused to co-operate with a series of United Nations resolutions.
“We will respect the FIFA decision and we will implement it,” said Hmoud.
“But I think it was not appropriate because it was based on incorrect information.”
“Arbil is a safe city.
“FIFA could have sent a fact-finding delegation.
“They could have asked the attaches of foreign embassies in Arbil.
“All decisions in the world are subjected to appeal, we will follow other channels that help Iraq in lifting this ban.”
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