Blatter says IFA elections to be held next July

BAGHDAD /Iraqi News FIFA President Sepp Blatter said on Wednesday in Jordan that FIFA agreed with the officials in Iraq to send the laws regarding choosing a new administration of the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) by the end of next May, while the elections will be held by the end of July. FIFA on Friday lifted its suspension on the Iraqi Football Association after a solution was found to a spat over alleged government interference. ”Iraq is fully back as a member of FIFA,” said president Sepp Blatter. The Iraqi football association was suspended in November 2009 after police seized control of its offices and its governing board was dissolved on charges of links to executed dictator Saddam Hussein. FIFA had called for the members of the association’s executive committee to be reinstated. It said on Friday that the Iraqi national Olympic committee and the International Olympic Committee had helped restore the IFA‘s ”full authority”. SH (P) 1