Iraqi FA says government interference was misunderstanding

By Julian Linden

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Iraqi Football Association (IFA) President Hussein Saeed is confident his country's government will never meddle in soccer again after FIFA's hard line approach to its interference.

FIFA slapped a temporary suspension on Iraq and threatened to ban the national team from playing for a year in response to their government's decision to dissolve its National Olympic Committee.

The ban was revoked when Baghdad provided written assurances that it had not dissolved the IFA, allowing Iraq's World Cup qualifier against Australia to go ahead as planned on Sunday.

"We have a solution between the government of Iraq and FIFA that is good for all the family of football," Saeed told reporters during Friday's FIFA Congress in Sydney.

"We cannot imagine that the people of Iraq won't see the national team try to qualify for the World Cup. Now all the people in Iraq are smiling."

Saeed, who played a key role in getting the ban lifted after he outlined the Iraqi government's position to FIFA, said the ban was partly the result of a misunderstanding.

The Iraqi football team became a symbol of hope for the war-torn country following their shock victory in last year's Asian Cup.

Saeed said the Iraqi government had never intended to stop the national team from playing and was keen to meet with FIFA officials to ensure the right procedures were followed in future.