Iraq has dismissed the idea of playing its World Cup qualifying match against Palestine in Jerusalem, preferring a different venue. The Iraqi Football Association raised concerns over the integrity of the competition, while Palestine criticized the decision, expressing a desire to host matches in their territory. The match is scheduled for March 25 and is part of the Asian qualifying series.
The Iraq national football team has officially dismissed the possibility of playing their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Palestine in Jerusalem. The Iraqi Football Association (IFA) rejected a proposal from Palestine to host the match near Jerusalem, opting instead to request a venue change from FIFA, as the match is currently scheduled to take place in Amman, Jordan.
Palestine has not played an international soccer match in their territories since October 2019, and since then, they have played home fixtures at neutral locations including Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, and Malaysia. The match between Iraq and Palestine is scheduled for March 25 as part of the Asian qualifying third round.
The IFA raised concerns regarding the potential breach of FIFA’s rules regarding neutral venues, asserting that playing in Amman would compromise the integrity of the competition. Iraq currently ranks second in Group B, closely contending with Jordan and South Korea.
The Palestine Football Association (PFA) expressed disappointment over Iraq’s decision, noting that FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had previously evaluated the Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium in Al-Ram, Jerusalem, and deemed it suitable for the match. The PFA indicated that they were surprised by Iraq’s unilateral decision, which was communicated directly to FIFA and AFC without prior consultation with them.
Despite expressing a desire to hold the match in Palestine and support Palestinian sports, the IFA cited the absence of VAR technology at the stadium as a primary reason for their refusal. As the group standings show, Palestine remains at the bottom with three points, while both Iraq and Jordan contend for positions that could lead to World Cup qualification.
In summary, Iraq has rejected the chance to play their World Cup qualifier against Palestine in Jerusalem, favoring a move to Amman. The IFA is concerned about competition fairness, while the PFA seeks to assert their right to host matches within their territory. With ongoing discussions with FIFA and AFC, the situation remains dynamic as the teams prepare for their upcoming match, which is critical for Group B standings.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
