Iraq to play home games at neutral venue

FIFA have ruled that the Iraqi national team will have to play their home qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup and 2012 Olympics at a neutral venue.

The game’s governing body sent a letter to the Iraq Football Association (IFA) due to concerns relating to safety and security at the World Cup qualifier between Iraq and Jordan in Arbil on September 2.

It is understood the crowd at the match appeared well over capacity and there was also a power cut during the match.
Iraq will now have to nominate a neutral venue by October 1 for its home World Cup qualifiers, where it is grouped against Singapore, China and Jordan.
IFA president Najih Hmoud told Reuters he accepted the ban but said the organisation would fight it, claiming it was based on false information.

“We will respect the FIFA decision and we will implement it. But I think it was not appropriate because it was based on incorrect information,” Hmoud said.
“Arbil is a safe city. Fifa could have sent a fact-finding delegation. They could have asked the attaches of foreign embassies in Arbil. I don’t believe the circumstances that the report included… are enough to transfer matches to another venue.”

“It is too early to nominate a new venue. There are many alternatives. We have no problem with that. All decisions in the world are subjected to appeal. We will follow other channels that help Iraq in lifting this ban.”