FIFA suspends Iraq from world soccer after missed deadline to restore national body

FIFA suspends Iraq for political meddling

ZURICH — FIFA suspended Iraq from soccer because of political interference in the national federation.

Soccer’s world governing body says it is “unacceptable” for Iraq’s Olympic committee to disband the federation this week for alleged financial and administrative irregularities.

FIFA’s emergency committee, led by president Sepp Blatter, imposed the suspension after Iraq missed an overnight deadline to reinstate the federation and hand back the headquarters seized by government security forces.

“The clubs and representative teams of Iraq are no longer permitted to take part in international matches, whether friendly or competitive,” FIFA said in a statement.

FIFA rules require full independence of national associations. FIFA funding has been stopped and Iraq, which move up five places to No. 88 in the FIFA rankings on Friday, will be deprived of its vote at international soccer meetings.

Iraqi Olympic board member Samir al-Moussawi said Friday the committee was standing by its decision.

“We will continue our contacts with FIFA officials and we will provide them with evidence to support our claims,” al-Moussawi told The Associated Press. “Anyhow, Iraqi football teams have no international activities in the next three months and we hope that during this period we will be able to resolve our differences with FIFA.”

FIFA said Iraq’s under-16 girl’s team can play in a weeklong tournament in Jordan starting Sunday.

Iraqi soccer has had a troubled relationship with FIFA since its popularity peaked with a victory in the 2007 Asian Cup.

Last year, FIFA imposed a ban on Iraqi teams after the government dissolved the national Olympic committee, along with all sports federations.

The ban threatened Iraq’s participation in World Cup qualifiers but was lifted after the government assured FIFA that soccer was excluded from the decision.

Last month, FIFA granted the Iraq Football Association until April 30, 2010, to adopt new statutes and elect a new board, stressing that the process had to be independent and free of government interference.