The Emergency Committee of FIFA decided Friday to suspend the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) due to governmental interference.
FIFA learned on 16 November that the Iraqi Olympic Committee had disbanded the IFA and that governmental security forces had seized control of the IFA headquarters.
On the same day, FIFA informed the IFA that if the decision was not revoked within 72 hours and if the headquarters were not returned to the IFA by the same deadline, the case would be referred to the FIFA Emergency Committee.
The deadline has expired without revocation of the decision by the Iraqi Olympic Committee and the IFA has not been restored to its headquarters. The FIFA Emergency Committee has therefore decided to immediately suspend the IFA until the decision of the Iraqi Olympic Committee is revoked and the IFA retakes possession of its offices.
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. 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.
However, the FIFA Emergency Committee has agreed to let the Iraqi women players take part in the U-16 regional football festival organised by the Norwegian Football Association in Jordan between 22 and 29 November.
The measures taken by the Iraqi Olympic Committee and the security forces are unacceptable to FIFA as they stand in total contradiction of IFA and FIFA statutes
The current members of the IFA Executive Committee are the sole recognised interlocutors for FIFA, and FIFA hopes that they will be rapidly reinstated so that they can work on the agreements that have been reached with regard to the revision of the statutes and the holding of elections.
It was first Brunei , now it is Iraq. Next it will be Taekwando Malaysia. OCM Dato Sieh will be smiling like the Cheshire Cat . So what if they ban Malaysia from Taekwando. Who cares about that sport when we stiull have Karate. Wu Shu, Silat and a host of other martial arts.
ReplyDeleteFato Sieh Kok Chi, are you waiting for this to happem to Malaysia , only you will be satisfirf?
Dear Mr. Olympism I think you should not be personal in this matter, Brunei and Iraq are not in the same league as Malaysia. In those country they do not practise fair play and the spirit of Olympism. In our OCM helm by Tunku and Dato Sieh Kok Chi they practise fair play and all that is good for Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteIn Taekwando the WTF that is the International Federation for the Sport are not like FIFA. The MTA tried sueing but this time I think they have given up and leave it to OCM to do what they like.
The Olympic charter is very clear, the Inter national Federation governing the sports are part of the Olympic movement. Some are strong some are weak. The weaker ones like Taekwando, get punched kick and spat on by OCM.
The Football in Malaysia is in a sorry state, perhaps OCM should come in like what Brunei and Iraq did, replace it with OCM team. They should form an ad hoc committee to run football in Malaysia. You think the Sec Gen and Tunku dare to mess with FIFA?
I dare to bet, the whole Board of OCM dare not even touch, FIFA with a one mile pole. That is OCM just a bunch of bully of the weak in the name of the Spirit of Olympism.