FIFA lifts Iraq ban ahead of World Cup date

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- World governing body FIFA said on Thursday that it has provisionally and conditionally lifted its year-long suspension of Iraq's football association.

The all-clear means that the Iraqi football team can take on Australia in Brisbane on Sunday in a qualifying match for the 2010 World Cup.

Tension between the Iraqi government and FIFA started after Baghdad dissolved and reorganized its Olympic committee to rid it of corruption.

Worried about the political meddling in sports, the football association's executive committee voted Monday to suspend the Iraqi Football Association.

FIFA lifted its suspension on Thursday after the Iraqi government said its decision to dissolve its Olympic committee did not affect the country's football association.

However, FIFA still has concerns about political interference in Iraqi sport and said the lifting of the ban was "provisional and conditional."

"The suspension has been lifted, the game will go ahead." president Sepp Blatter confirmed in Sydney where FIFA is staging its 58th Congress.

"FIFA received a letter from the General Secretariat for the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Iraq, confirming that the IFA had been 'excluded' from the above-mentioned decree, thereby re-establishing the statutory order of the Iraqi association and its leaders, who will 'continue their activities inside and outside Iraq until legal election'," FIFA said in a statement.

Further meetings will be scheduled with Iraqi officials in Zurich and the ban could be re-imposed if certain criteria are not met.

"This letter is a positive step, however it does not fully answer all of FIFA's concerns about the governmental attempts to control the Iraqi federations and the Iraqi National Olympic Committee," FIFA said.

"Therefore, FIFA has decided to lift the suspension imposed on the IFA, but on a purely provisional and conditional basis."

A delegation comprising members of the Asian Football Confederation, Iraqi Football Association, the Iraq government and FIFA will meet "as soon as possible to clarify all outstanding issues.

"FIFA will continue to coordinate the steps it has taken with regard to the IFA, a body that is an important member of the Iraqi National Olympic Committee, with the efforts taken by the IOC to ensure that the Olympic Charter is applied to the entire Iraqi Olympic and sporting movement."

The statement came as Blatter arrived for the opening ceremonies at the Opera House -- and Football Federation Australia were quick to welcome the decision.

"This is great news," FF Australia chief Ben Buckley said. "We're truly delighted that the Iraqi Government, the Iraq FA and FIFA have sorted out the issues between them and the Socceroos and Iraq can get on the field to play this important match.

"It has always been our hope that the games could go ahead as they are critical matches in Australia's World Cup qualification preparation, and playing football is what we're here for."

The return qualifying encounter will be staged in Dubai on June 7.

Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam said the Iraqi government's moves to clarify the suspension "is a step forward in the right direction."

"Now the World Cup game can go on, which is what the AFC, both teams and fans wanted."

He urged the Iraqi team to "put the past behind and focus on the important match ahead," but added that the lifting of the suspension was provisional and the matter would only be fully resolved when the the Iraqi National Olympic Committee and all sports federations are reinstated.

"Only such a move can lead to re-instilling of trust in Iraqi sports," he said.