World soccer’s governing body FIFA on Friday announced its decision to suspend the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) until further notice “because of government interference.”
“In accordance with FIFA statutes, the clubs and representative teams of Iraq are no longer permitted to take part in international matches, whether friendly or competitive,” read a statement on the FIFA Web site. “Furthermore, the IFA is deprived of its right to vote at any congresses held by international bodies and is no longer entitled to receive financial assistance.”
Despite FIFA’s decision, Iraq’s women’s under-16 team will be allowed to compete in a youth tournament organized by the Norwegian soccer federation that is scheduled to take place in Jordan from today until next Sunday.
On Tuesday, FIFA gave the authorities in Baghdad a 72-hour ultimatum to reinstate the IFA or risk suspension from international soccer.
Police on Wednesday seized control of the IFA’s offices after its governing board was dissolved on charges of links to executed dictator Saddam Hussein.
FIFA said that the current members of the IFA’s Executive Committee were “the sole recognized interlocutors for FIFA” and called for them to be “rapidly reinstated.”
“The measures taken by the Iraqi Olympic Committee [IOC] and the security forces are unacceptable to FIFA as they stand in total contradiction of IFA and FIFA statutes,” the statement said.
The Iraqi government described the decision as unjust.
“It’s an unfair decision [that] was taken without hearing the Iraqi Olympic Committee,” government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said.
“We feel that the IFA was behind the decision of FIFA to suspend the Iraqi federation,” said Dabbagh, who is also responsible for organizing IFA elections. “We are going to work with the Iraqi Olympic Committee to apply the national laws in respect of the FIFA regulations. FIFA has to respect the positions of the football clubs of Iraq who don’t want to accept the executive board of the IFA, [which] is involved in corruption and violation of Iraqi laws.”
IFA chief Hussein Saeed, however, said the “FIFA decision was expected after the IOC’s decision to dissolve the IFA, which is an illegal approach.”
Soccer is highly popular in Iraq and its importance was boosted by the national side’s victory in the 2007 Asian Nations Cup.
FIFA has expressed growing concern about possible political interference in the sport in Iraq. In September, it gave the IFA until April 30 to elect a new board.
Iraq was briefly suspended from international football in May last year after the government dissolved the national Olympic Committee. It was reinstated only after the government said the IFA had not been affected.
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.