Socceroos hope to play Iraq

AUSTRALIA still hope their World Cup qualifiers against Iraq will go ahead despite FIFA provisionally suspending their opponents.
FIFA's executive committee announced after a meeting in Sydney that they would suspend Iraq from international football due to government interference in the running of the sport in Iraq.

In a statement, world football's governing body threatened to boot Iraq out of football for a year if the Iraqi Government did not back down by midnight on Thursday.

The high-stakes standoff has left both Australia and Iraq in limbo ahead of their World Cup qualifier at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Sunday - a match which is a near sellout - and the return match in Dubai on June 7.

Australia's World Cup qualifiers against Iraq will not be played if the Iraqi Government does not back down and the one-year suspension takes effect, and the Socceroos will be awarded wins on forfeit.

But the Socceroos are set to continue their training camp in Brisbane until FIFA makes a final decision at its congress in Sydney on Friday, and they are scheduled to train twice on Tuesday under coach Pim Verbeek.

Football Federation Australia head of corporate and public affairs Bonita Mersiades confirmed it would be "business as usual" for the Socceroos despite Iraq's provisional suspension.

"Our strong hope is the matter is resolved as quickly as possible and the two teams can meet on the field," Mersiades said.

"In the meantime the Socceroos are continuing as if it's business as usual."

If Iraq is booted out, the extra six points guaranteed for the Socceroos would virtually ensure they advance to the next phase of Asian World Cup qualifying as one of the top two teams in the group.

Short-term, the decision would cost FFA an estimated $3 million in lost gate receipts for the match at Suncorp Stadium.

But a virtual saloon passage to the next stage of World Cup qualification starting later this year would provide at least four more home games, a long-term financial windfall for the game and take the Socceroos a step closer to the 2010 finals in South Africa.

The Iraq team are due to arrive in Brisbane on Tuesday night from Thailand, where they have been preparing for the match.

FIFA's decision followed an Iraqi governmental decree last week which dissolved the Iraqi National Olympic Committee and all national sport federations, including the football association.

It has also thrown Iraq's participation in the Beijing Olympics into serious doubt.

FIFA takes a dim view of government interference in football affairs, with several African nations under suspension for similar breaches and unable to take part in national competitions.

"The FIFA executive committee decided that in accordance with article 14, paragraph one of the FIFA Statutes, the case of the Iraqi Football Association would be presented to the FIFA Congress on May 30 for suspension until the FIFA Congress in 2009, namely one year," FIFA said.

"However, the suspension decided upon today may be lifted if FIFA receives by May 29 midnight (AEST), written confirmation from the Iraqi government that the decree has been annulled." so where are yours iam not sport my self but where are yours