Iraq has rejected playing its World Cup qualifier against Palestine in both Jerusalem and Amman, seeking a different venue due to concerns over FIFA rules on neutral sites. The Palestinian Football Association expressed disappointment, striving to host matches in Palestine despite numerous challenges in securing agreements.
Iraq has declined to play their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Palestine in either Jerusalem or Jordan. The Iraqi Football Association (IFA) aims to have the match moved from the Jordanian capital of Amman, as they rejected a proposal to hold it just outside Jerusalem. The last official soccer game in the Palestinian territories occurred in 2019; since then, Palestine has hosted matches at neutral venues in various countries.
The match is scheduled for March 25, part of the third round of Asian qualifiers. FIFA suggested Amman as a neutral venue after Iraq turned down the option to play in Palestine. In a statement, the IFA expressed concerns over playing in Amman, citing potential breaches of FIFA regulations regarding neutral venues. They highlighted the competitive nature of Group B, where Iraq is second, just ahead of Jordan.
The Palestine Football Association (PFA) expressed disappointment over Iraq’s decision not to play in the Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium in Al-Ram. They noted that FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) deemed the stadium suitable, contingent upon Iraq’s agreement. The PFA was surprised by IFA’s unilateral decision and reaffirmed their commitment to securing the right to host matches on their own soil.
While the IFA expressed a desire to play in Palestine to support local sports, they cited a lack of VAR technology at the stadium as their reason for declining. Currently, Palestine sits at the bottom of Group B with three points after six matches, while Iraq is in second place with 11 points. Neither Palestine nor Jordan has qualified for the World Cup finals, while Iraq qualified once in 1986.
Iraq’s refusal to play Palestine’s World Cup qualifier in Jerusalem or Jordan has raised questions regarding the integrity of the competition, especially since the teams are direct competitors in Group B. The PFA expressed disappointment, emphasizing the need to uphold the right to host on their home soil despite the challenges. The situation reflects the complexities of scheduling international matches amid political considerations.
Original Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
