Fifa lift Iraqi suspension

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By Chris Burton   Last updated: 29th May 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Fifa lift Iraqi suspension

Iraq: Suspension lifted

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Iraq have been granted permission to play their World Cup qualifier against Australia on Sunday.

The game had been in doubt after Fifa suspended the reigning Asian champions from international competition.

The decision was taken in response to the axing of their National Olympic Committee, however the ban has been temporarily lifted after assurances from the Iraqi government that the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) had remained untouched.

Fifa have made it clear that they are still unhappy with the current situation and have reiterated that they will have no qualms in reinstating the suspension should certain demands fail to be met.

Football's governing body are concerned that the Iraqi government are too keen to control all of their national sporting associations and have called on the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to help resolve the matter.

"This is a positive step forward, however it does not fully answer all of Fifa's concerns about the governmental attempts to control the Iraqi federations and the Iraqi National Olympic Committee," read a statement released by Fifa.

Trust

AFC president Mohamed Bin Hamman, who had led the push for Iraq to be suspended, has welcomed the positive steps being taken, but has warned that there is still some way to go before the country can be fully accepted back into the sporting community.

"This process would be completed only when the suspension imposed on the Iraq Olympic Association and all sports bodies is lifted," he said.

"Only such a move can lead to re-instilling of trust in Iraqi sports."

Australia, who had been set to suffer substantial financial losses had the game been called off, have expressed their delight at the match in Brisbane being given the go-ahead.

"This is great news," Football Federation of Australia (FFA) chief executive Ben Buckley said.

"It has always been our hope that the games could go ahead as they are critical matches in Australia's World Cup qualification preparation, and playing football is what we're here for."