Football: FIFA bans Iraq’s home matches

ARBIL: Iraq will have to play all their home qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup and next year’s London Olympics at a neutral venue due to fears over security, said the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). In a letter sent to the Iraq Football Association (IFA), Fifa raised concerns over security conditions and a breach of safety regulations in their qualifier with Jordan earlier this month. IFA President Najih Hmoud said Iraq would try to have the ban lifted. “I think the ban was not appropriate because it was based on incorrect information,” said Hmoud.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th,  2011.