FIFA denies reports on granting friendly permission to Kurdish team

PanARMENIAN.Net - FIFA has rejected reports that it granted permission for the Iraqi Kurdistan national football team to compete in a friendly tournament next month in Palestine, Hürriyet Daily News reports.

“Please note that FIFA recognizes and deals only with the IFA [Iraqi Football Association] and not with a so-called ‘Iraqi Kurdistan Football Federation,’” the FIFA Media Office said in a statement April 13 to the HDN.

“Therefore, FIFA does not approve such games as the [friendly tournament in question].”

Earlier on April 13, Doğan news agency quoted Iraqi Kurdistan Football Association Secretary General Selam Hüseyin as saying their national team had been granted approval by the world football’s governing body to play in a friendly tournament that would be held in Palestine next month.

“FIFA has approved our team to play in the May 13-22 tournament,” Hüseyin was quoted as saying, before listing Uzbekistan, Tunisia, Mauritania, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Pakistan as the other participants in the friendly cup.