Socceroos World Cup qualifer in doubt

[Sean]

Socceroos World Cup qualifer in doubt
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The Iraq Football Association was dissolved by the Iraqi government on Tuesday (May 20) throwing the participation of the national soccer team in the qualifications of the 2010 World Cup in doubt.

The Iraqi government suspended the office of its Olympic Committee, along with all of its related federations, to hold elections and prepare a new law for the committee.

"The government would form an interim committee headed by the minister of Youth and Sports with all the needed powers for three months to hold elections and to enact a new law for the new national Olympic committee," spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said.

The interim committee will run and supervise the activities of all the sporting federations.

Head of the football federation Hussein Saeed said he is afraid that such decision would lead to halt the activities of all federations, including the participation of Iraq's national soccer team in the qualifications of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Asian Football Confederation President Mohamed Bin Hammam has called for the immediate revocation of the governmental order.

Interesting times ahead with the Socceroos due to face Iraq in just ten days time. AFC's failure to recognise any new government-appointed administration could put that match in doubt.

 

[Mariner Girl]

Does that mean 6 points to us by default ?

 

[dibo]

it would be similar to the lebanon situation in the asian cup qualifiers - we'd simply have a group of 3, with the top two going to the next stage. iraq's matches so far would be annulled.

 

[serious14]

Geez, can't we just qualify for something properly for once??    Welcome to the wonderful world of the AFC ay??

 

[kevrenor]

Geez, can't we just qualify for something properly for once??    Welcome to the wonderful world of the AFC ay??

It would happen in UEFA too if a government directly intervened in a sport. FIFA ruling not just AFC. I seem to remember it happening in the past but hazy on any details.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Thank you Mr Bush, your efforts to help us qualify are duly noted.

 

[skilbeck]

Geez, can't we just qualify for something properly for once??    Welcome to the wonderful world of the AFC ay??

theres another qualifying round after this, where we will probably be drawn with somone like Iran, Japan, Korea or Saudi Arabia so its still not an easy run

 

[midfielder]

This takes real guts this ............ good on AFC & FIFA.

 

[serious14]

Geez, can't we just qualify for something properly for once??    Welcome to the wonderful world of the AFC ay??

It would happen in UEFA too if a government directly intervened in a sport. FIFA ruling not just AFC. I seem to remember it happening in the past but hazy on any details.

Oh I know, I'm just referring to our delightful history on the World Football stage when it comes to........... well, everything. 

 

[Arabmariner]

Geez, can't we just qualify for something properly for once??    Welcome to the wonderful world of the AFC ay??

It would happen in UEFA too if a government directly intervened in a sport. FIFA ruling not just AFC. I seem to remember it happening in the past but hazy on any details.

EURO 2000 ? Yugoslavia qualified.........Balkans war..........Denmark took their place and won the bloody thing!

 

[dibo]

1992, but yeah, true story! beat the world champs in the final too.

 

[nero]

THE Iraq game would have been a money spinner  for the FFA. Its also good to have big football games filling stadiums during the other codes season.

 

[marinersman]

Here's the latest.

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/releases/newsid=777885.html#iraqi+football+association+suspended


Iraqi Football Association suspended (FIFA.com) Monday 26 May 2008
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On the first day of its meeting in Sydney, the FIFA Executive Committee decided to suspend the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) as of today, 26 May 2008, following the governmental decree passed on 20 May which dissolved the Iraqi National Olympic Committee and all national sport federations, including the IFA.

The FIFA Executive Committee also decided that in accordance with art. 14, par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes, the case of the Iraqi Football Association would be presented to the FIFA Congress on 30 May for suspension until the FIFA Congress in 2009, namely one year.

However, the suspension decided upon today may be lifted if FIFA receives by 29 May, midnight (Sydney time), 16.00h CET, written confirmation from the Iraqi government that the decree has been annulled.

 

[northernspirit]

i feel sorry for those with plane tickets etc... what a joke of a situation, ill happily take the 3 points but would prefer to see us beat them the proper way

 

[marinersman]

Let's hope the Iraqi government comes good before the deadline.

 

[northernspirit]

not looking good... they will likely stick to their guns (excuse the pun)

 

[Paolo]

its been reported that if this match doesnt go ahead the FFA will suffer a $3million loss. Not good when they are struggling for money as it is

 

[dibo]

newsradio reported this morning that FIFA's got it wrong - the Iraqi Olympic Committee was dissolved (and associated entities), but this apparently doesn't include the FA. cue frantic discussion between Iraqi FA and FIFA over the meaning of small words and semicolons, and with luck the game will be on.

 

[loyalist]

its been reported that if this match doesnt go ahead the FFA will suffer a $3million loss. Not good when they are struggling for money as it is

dissolve the federation and bring back soccer australia

 

[skilbeck]

its been reported that if this match doesnt go ahead the FFA will suffer a $3million loss. Not good when they are struggling for money as it is

If this is the case The Iraqi Government/whatever replaces the Iraqi FA should have to cover the losses as a part of their re entry back into FIFA when that comes up. As a matter of interest, did the Iraqi government give any reason why it dissolved its sporting associations?