Iraq face being suspended by world governing body FIFA after the Iraqi Olympic Committee dissolved the governing board of the Iraq Football Association.
FIFA has described yesterday's move as "incomprehensible" and insists if the decision is not reversed by Thursday, Iraq face a ban.
"FIFA has learnt that the Iraqi Olympic Committee announced the dissolution of the governing board of the IFA. This stands in total contradiction with IFA and FIFA statutes," read a FIFA statement.
"If the decision to dissolute IFA is not cancelled within 72 hours (starting November 16), 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.
"FIFA appeals once more to all stakeholders in Iraq to respect the autonomy of sport in general and the IFA in particular and to allow IFA to conduct its affairs according its statutes and those of FIFA."
In May last year, FIFA suspended the Iraq Football Association after it was dissolved by the Iraq government, along with the country's Olympic Committee and all other sporting bodies.
But FIFA lifted the suspension after receiving a letter from the General Secretariat for the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Iraq which confirmed the IFA had been "excluded" from the decree.
"FIFA has learnt that the Iraqi Olympic Committee announced the dissolution of the governing board of the IFA. This stands in total contradiction with IFA and FIFA statutes," read a FIFA statement.
"If the decision to dissolute IFA is not cancelled within 72 hours (starting November 16), 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.
"FIFA appeals once more to all stakeholders in Iraq to respect the autonomy of sport in general and the IFA in particular and to allow IFA to conduct its affairs according its statutes and those of FIFA."
In May last year, FIFA suspended the Iraq Football Association after it was dissolved by the Iraq government, along with the country's Olympic Committee and all other sporting bodies.
But FIFA lifted the suspension after receiving a letter from the General Secretariat for the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Iraq which confirmed the IFA had been "excluded" from the decree.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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