IFA prevents national team coaches from speaking to media
The coach of Iraq U-20 national team, Emad Mohammed. Photo: IFA
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The coach of the Iraq national under-17 football team, Ahmed Kadhim, revealed on Tuesday that the Iraq Football Association (IFA) prohibited national team coaches from speaking to the media.
Coaches, assistants, and administrative directors of Iraqi national teams are not allowed to appear in the media, according to a decision made by the IFA, Kadhim told Shafaq News.
The Iraqi coach clarified that statements or public appearances cannot be made without the IFA’s official approval.
Iraq’s U-20 coach, Emad Mohammed, said in a televised interview that the current coach of the Iraqi national team, Jesus Casas, did not make any major achievements compared to his accomplishments with the young squad.
Due to remarks he had made against media figure Mona Sami, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) decided in March to ban Iraq’s U-20 coach from training for a period of six months.
FIFA mentioned in a statement that it forwarded Sami’s complaint to a disciplinary committee, which then made the decision.
Following the incident, the IFA said that it has appealed FIFA’s decision and that it will continue to defend the Iraqi coach.