FIFA lifts ban on Iraq team

AUSTRALIA'S World Cup qualifier against Iraq on Sunday has been saved after FIFA provisionally lifted its suspension on the Middle Eastern side.

The Iraqi Football Association (IFA) was threatened with a one-year ban, if, by midnight Sydney time today FIFA had not received official confirmation that the Iraq government had overturned a decree dissolving the

IFA, the country's Olympic committee and all other sporting bodies.

FIFA received a letter from the Republic of Iraq, confirming that the IFA had been "excluded" from the decree. In a statement, FIFA described it as "a positive step" but the world governing body, who are in Sydney for FIFA's annual congress, still have misgivings over the controversy.

However, the statement added: "It does not fully answer all of FIFA's concerns about the governmental attempts to control the Iraqi federations and the Iraqi National Olympic Committee."

FIFA will seek a meeting with the Asian Football Confederation, the IFA and representatives of the Iraqi government in Zurich as soon as possible to clarify all outstanding issues and reserve the right to re-impose the suspension immediately.