FIFA gives Iraq 72 hours in row over association

World football’s governing body FIFA on Tuesday warned Iraq that it would consider suspending the country’s football association unless Iraqi football chiefs were reinstated within 72 hours.

FIFA said in a statement that it had learnt that “the Iraqi Olympic Committee announced the dissolution of the governing board of the IFA (Iraqi Football Association).”

“If the decision to dissolute IFA is not cancelled withing 72 hours (starting 16 November), and if the IFA Headquarters are not returned to the IFA within the same deadline, FIFA will have no choice but to refer the issue to the FIFA Emergency Committee in order to decide on a possible IFA suspension,” it added.

World football’s governing body has expressed growing concern in recent weeks about possible political interference in Iraqi football.