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Iraq suspended from international football

BERNE
Fri Nov 20, 2009 1:20pm EST

BERNE (Reuters) - Asian champions Iraq have been suspended from international football because of political interference in the country's FA, FIFA said Friday.

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"The FIFA Emergency Committee has...decided to suspend the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) due to governmental interference," the world governing body said in a statement.

FIFA said it learned earlier this week the Iraqi Olympic Committee had disbanded the IFA and government security forces had seized control of the association's headquarters.

The ruling means Iraq cannot play any internationals -- friendly or competitive -- and its clubs are also banned from playing foreign opposition.

(Reporting by Brian Homewood; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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