**Iraq face exile from world football after the Iraqi Olympic committee took control of and disbanded the country’s football association (IFA).**World football’s governing body Fifa called the move “incomprehensible” and said it was “in total contradiction with IFA and Fifa statutes”.
Iraq has been given 72 hours to restore the IFA or the case will be referred to Fifa’s Emergency Committee.
That would most likely see the Asian Cup holders banned from the sport.
Iraq’s Olympic committee and the IFA have had a long-running dispute over who controls the game in the country.
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Olympic committee members blame the IFA for a continuing Fifa ban on the country hosting international matches, because of fears over insecurity.
This year Fifa did allow Iraq to host its first international friendlies since the American-led invasion of 2003, two games against Palestine, and on Wednesday they are due to play the United Arab Emirates away, but overall the ban remains in place.
The IFA has refused a demand from the Olympic committee to elect a new board.
“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,” said a Fifa statement.