FIFA reinstates Iraq after international soccer ban reversed

Baghdad - FIFA has reinstated the nation of Iraq's soccer teams and officials after it was banned from competing in international soccer and was welcomed back after a decision was reversed.

The international governing body for soccer, FIFA, announced on Friday that it has lifted its suspension on the Iraqi Football Association after an earlier decision was reversed by its Olympic committee, according to AFP. Reuters reports that Iraq was banned in November, which was the second time in only 18 months, after government security forces seized control of the federation headquarters and the country’s Olympic committee dissolved their soccer association because of alleged government interference in the sport. “Iraq is fully back as a member, they have a road map to (federation) elections and they can play football again,” said FIFA President Sepp Blatter to a crowd of reporters. Blatter further added that FIFA worked quite closely with the International Olympic Committee before any decision was made. FIFA stated that the ban was lifted after the IFA was given back its full authority but the IFA officials must provide FIFA with new statutes by the end of May and present a general assembly at the end of July, reports the Associated Press.