Kewell and the Gang: Harry's Goal Lifts Socceroos By Iraq In FIFA-Threatened WC Qualifier

At Brisbane, Queensland, Australia:

Harry Kewell scored the lone goal of the match Sunday which saw Australia defeat Iraq 1-0 in a qualifying match for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The win increased Australia's lead atop Group One, with seven points from three games. Iraq has just one point from three games, with the top two from the four-team group to progress to the next round. Qatar hosts China on Monday.

Iraq's preparations were hampered when it was suspended from international competition on Tuesday night and only reinstated on Thursday, three days ahead of the Brisbane match.

Football's world governing body conditionally and provisionally lifted the ban after the Iraqi government reinstated the national football federation that had been disbanded the previous week.

If you remember, Iraq's soccer federation had last week been suspended by FIFA after the Baghdad government had disbanded their Olympic federation. The Iraqis' were conditionally re-instated later last week after soccer's world governing body received assurances that the soccer federation had not been disbanded.

Temporary Reprieve For Iraq

It was announced Thursday that FIFA will, for the time being, lift its suspension of Iraq's soccer federation:

However, FIFA agreed to revoke the ban after the Iraqi government provided written assurances that they had not dissolved the Iraqi Football Association (IFA).

FIFA released a statement on Thursday confirming they had lifted the ban so Sunday's World Cup qualifier would proceed but warned Baghdad that it was only provisional and had conditions attached.

FIFA said they still had concerns over the Iraqi government's attempts to control its national federations and have called for a delegation from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the IFA to join them to Zurich to discuss the issues.

This weekend's 2010 World Cup qualifying match between Iraq and Australia will be played as scheduled.

Iraq Banned?!

At Sydney, Australia:

FIFA on Monday suspended Iraq's soccer federation because of Baghdad's disbanding of the country's National Olympic Committee and all sports federations.

The executive board of world soccer's governing body announced it had imposed the ban after the Iraq government dissolved its National Olympic Committee and national sport federations in breach of FIFA and Olympic regulations.

The board will recommend that the FIFA Congress, which meets in Sydney on Friday, suspends Iraq from all tournaments for 12 months, but left the door open for a reprieve if Baghdad reversed its decision by 1400 GMT on Thursday.


This should teach government to take their noses out of the businesses of the various sports federations.

Historic Win For Iraq

At Jakarta, Indonesia:

Iraq stunned Saudi Arabia 1-0 to win the Asian Cup championship on Sunday. Younis Khalef (pictured here, in the white jersey, battling the Saudis' Osama Hawsawi for the ball) scored the game's only goal at 71 minutes. Photo from Dita Alangkara/Associated Press.