In a reminder that some things are more important than football,
three members of the Iraqi Olympic team, as well as an an assistant
coach, have gone AWOL from the squad camp in Australia in order to
seek political asylum...
The Iraqi Football Association has announced that one of its
assistant coaches and three players have remained in Australia
after an Olympic qualifier.
Assistant coach Saadi Toma and playing trio Ali Mansour, Ali
Khidhayyir and Ali Abbas were not present for the team's flight
back home after their 2-0 defeat, with Toma later informing the
Iraqi FA by telephone that the quartet had applied for
asylum.
"It's because of the deteriorated security situation and violence
against athletes in Iraq," explained Tariq Ahmed of the FA.
"We all face the same danger, but it doesn't mean one should so
easily abandon his team and defame his country's reputation.
"This will cause poor morale, and have a bad psychological effect
on the other players.
"They should have waited until finishing the qualifying round, and
then they could go wherever they want.
"This only shows disloyalty to the country."
The four will presumably not be taking part when the Iraqi side
take on Lebanon and Syria this week, even though their asylum
process has not started.
The four are still on regular, three-month visitors' visas, giving
htem time to prepare for their new lives before they apply to stay
in Australia.
Other sports stars have been threatened by life in Iraq in recent
times, not least captain and World Player of the Year nominee
Younis Mahmoud, who feared to return to Iraq after the country's
Asian Cup win recently.
