Soccer Games returning to Iraq?

With all the safety issues that exist in a war stricken nation like Iraq, FIFA made a bold move and banned the nation from holding home qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup and 2012 Olympics. Now, according to a report from the associated press, the Iraqi Football Association will plead its case to FIFA that the nation will be able to handle any and all security issues that should arise. Another reason that forced the ban on games being played in Iraq was due to an unexpected power outage that suspended play in a game between Iraq and Jordan back in september. In the report by the associated press this "power outage" was highlighted as the main reason that games were banned from Iraq. I find that a little fishy and contribute more to the fact that FIFA is worried about protecting its fans and the integrity of the sport. Especially with all the riots and unneccessary acts of violence that have occurred at international soccer events of the past year like the Egyptian soccer riot that killed 73. I feel in light of acts of this nature occurring in other nations, FIFA should use some regression when deciding to ban soccer games from any particular country. Especially, since soccer in Arabic nations is a important part of those nations culture and causes unrest amongst the people that could in turn cause acts of violence. Also using the power outage of the Jordan game as an underlier to a much bigger issue like security was very poor judgement by FIFA. The fact that they would even consider doing something of this nature makes me question the integrity of this committee. It is my hopes that FIFA will become wiser in light of this situation and allow soccer games to once again be played in Iraq.

~Max Householder

IFA emblem. (photo from Google pics)