FIFA have barred Iraq from hosting football matches, including qualifiers for the upcoming Olympics and World Cup, until further notice, an Iraqi Football Association (IFA) official told AFP on Thursday. Iraq had previously hosted games at the Francois Hariri Stadium in Arbil, most recently on September 2 when the hosts and 2007 Asian champions lost 2-0 to Jordan. “We have received a message from FIFA that says that Iraqi football matches are not allowed from now on in Francois Hariri stadium, and they must be transferred out of the country to a place chosen by Iraq within 10 days,” IFA Secretary Tareq Ahmed told AFP. Ahmed said the decision was taken by FIFA following the Sept 2 match due to the poor administration and organisation surrounding it.
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