Iraq has requested a change of venue for their World Cup qualifier against Palestine, rejecting a proposal to play near Jerusalem due to concerns over neutrality. The IFA emphasized the competitive integrity of Group B in the Asian qualifiers. The PFA expressed disappointment over Iraq’s decision and reaffirmed their commitment to hosting matches in Palestine.
Iraq has requested that their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Palestine in March be relocated from Amman, Jordan. The Iraqi Football Association (IFA) rejected a suggestion to play the match on neutral ground just outside Jerusalem. Historically, Palestine has played recent home matches at various neutral venues since their last game in the Palestinian territories in 2019, indicating ongoing challenges regarding hosting international games.
The match is scheduled for March 25 in Group B of the Asian qualifying rounds. Despite FIFA’s proposal of Amman as a neutral site, the IFA argues that this would violate FIFA’s regulations concerning neutral venues. Their statement expressed concerns about fairness in the highly competitive Group B, where Iraq currently holds second place by a narrow margin over Jordan.
The Palestine Football Association (PFA) has expressed disappointment over Iraq’s refusal to play in Al-Ram, Jerusalem, arguing that both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had previously approved the Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium. They stated, “We were surprised to learn that our colleagues in the Iraqi Football Association had unilaterally decided to decline playing in Palestine and directly communicated this to the AFC and FIFA without consulting the PFA.”
The IFA highlighted its intent to support Palestinian sports but cited the absence of VAR technology at the stadium as a key reason for their decision. As it stands, Palestine is at the bottom of Group B with only three points, while Iraq is vying to secure its spot for the World Cup finals, having previously competed in 1986, where they did not advance.
In summary, Iraq’s request to move their World Cup qualifier against Palestine underscores the complexities of hosting matches in politically sensitive regions. Despite FIFA’s endorsement of a venue in the Palestinian territories, the IFA’s insistence on neutrality and concerns about technological inadequacies complicate the situation. Both teams’ aspirations for World Cup qualification intensify the stakes of this decision.
Original Source: www.espn.com
