FIFA bars Iraq from competition for 1 year

The Associated Press
FIFA chief Sepp Blatter still believes Iraq will participate in the remainder of the Asian World Cup qualifiers.
FIFA has provisionally suspended Iraq from international soccer for one year due to a government decision to disband the sport's national organizing association.
On the first day of its meetings in Sydney, the FIFA executive committee decided Monday to suspend the Iraqi Football Association following a governmental decree last week, which dissolved the Iraqi National Olympic Committee and all national sport federations.
The executive committee said it would only revoke the suspension if it received by Thursday "written confirmation from the Iraqi government that the decree has been annulled."
Iraq was due to play Australia in a World Cup qualifier at Brisbane on Sunday and was scheduled to arrive in the Queensland state capital late Tuesday.
Earlier Monday, FIFA chief Sepp Blatter said he remained confident Iraq would be able to fulfil its commitments, but did not rule out the possibility it would be suspended.
"We have asked the government to withdraw its decision against the Iraq Football Association and we believe the IOC has also made the same request and threatened the same punishment [suspension] as FIFA," Blatter told Australian newspapers.
Blatter said he "could not imagine that this belligerent situation" would lead to Iraq not taking part in the rest of the Asian World Cup qualifiers.
"Iraq are the Asian champions and brought so much hope and joy to their country when they won the final in Malaysia last year," he told The Australian newspaper. "I am confident there is enough pressure on the government to help them change their mind."
Bonita Mersiades, Football Federation Australia's head of corporate and public affairs, said it would be "business as usual" for the Socceroos despite Iraq's provisional suspension.
She said the FFA hoped the game at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Sunday would go ahead, as well as the return leg in Dubai.
"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."