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FIFA Says Iraq Unsafe to Host World Cup Qualifying Games

FIFA said Iraq is not safe enough to host World Cup qualifying games. (Getty Images)
FIFA said Iraq is not safe enough to host World Cup qualifying games. (Getty Images)
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FIFA Says Iraq Unsafe to Host World Cup Qualifying Games

FIFA said Iraq is not safe enough to host World Cup qualifying games. (Getty Images)
FIFA said Iraq is not safe enough to host World Cup qualifying games. (Getty Images)

FIFA said Wednesday that Iraq is not safe enough to host World Cup qualifying games against Iran and Bahrain.

FIFA revealed it asked the Iraq football federation "to nominate a neutral venue" for the matches on November 14 and 19.

The games were to be played in Basra, the southern city which hosted Iraq's return last month to playing competitive games at home.

Iraq has rarely staged home games since the 1980s because of security concerns.

Turmoil in Iraq in recent weeks has been fueled by economic problems and dissatisfaction with Iran's political influence on its neighbor.

Iraq's 2-0 win over Hong Kong in Basra last month left the national team at the top of its five-team qualifying group. Two teams advance to the next round of Asian qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

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Scotland’s Robertson Carries Jota’s Dream to World Cup

Scotland captain Andy Robertson (R) and late former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota. (Getty Images)
Scotland captain Andy Robertson (R) and late former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota. (Getty Images)
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Scotland’s Robertson Carries Jota’s Dream to World Cup

Scotland captain Andy Robertson (R) and late former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota. (Getty Images)
Scotland captain Andy Robertson (R) and late former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota. (Getty Images)

Scotland captain Andy Robertson ‌said he will be playing for former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota at the World Cup after receiving a letter from the late Portuguese forward's widow ahead of the tournament.

After Scotland sealed World Cup qualification in November, Robertson had said his thoughts immediately turned to Jota, who died aged 28 in a car accident last July.

On Monday, Robertson shared a message ‌from Rute ‌Cardoso as part of FIFA's "Letters ‌That ⁠Unite" feature.

"Diogo often ⁠spoke of you, of the friendship you built, the battles you fought together, the challenges, the laughter, the conversations about football and about dreams," the letter read.

"The World Cup was one of those dreams, a dream that the ⁠two of you nurtured side by ‌side with the ‌same passion with which you took to the pitch.

"When ‌I heard your words and learnt what ‌you felt on that day when Scotland qualified for the World Cup after so many years of waiting, I realized that Diogo never truly left ‌the pitch.

"By achieving that moment and securing your place at the World ⁠Cup, ⁠you won’t be going alone; you'll be taking his dream with you too."

After reading the letter, Robertson said Jota would be at the front of his mind when he leads Scotland at their first World Cup in 28 years.

"I'm not only just playing for me, I'm playing for both of us," he added.

Scotland open their Group C campaign against Haiti in Boston on June 13 before taking on Morocco and Brazil.

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Roger Federer Will Return to the US Open to Take Part in an Exhibition Event

Roger Federer, of Switzerland, kisses the championship trophy after winning the men's finals championship over Andy Murray, of Britain, at the US Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Sept. 8, 2008. (AP)
Roger Federer, of Switzerland, kisses the championship trophy after winning the men's finals championship over Andy Murray, of Britain, at the US Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Sept. 8, 2008. (AP)
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Roger Federer Will Return to the US Open to Take Part in an Exhibition Event

Roger Federer, of Switzerland, kisses the championship trophy after winning the men's finals championship over Andy Murray, of Britain, at the US Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Sept. 8, 2008. (AP)
Roger Federer, of Switzerland, kisses the championship trophy after winning the men's finals championship over Andy Murray, of Britain, at the US Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Sept. 8, 2008. (AP)

Roger Federer will play in an exhibition at the US Open this year, returning to the Grand Slam tournament that he is the only player to win five consecutive times.

Days before being enshrined in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Federer will play in New York on Aug. 25. The event, titled “Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York,” also will include Andy Roddick, John McEnroe and Andre Agassi. It was announced Monday by the US Tennis Association.

Roddick won the 2003 US Open, the year before Federer started dominating the event. He won every one from 2004-08 as part of his 20 Grand Slam singles titles.

Federer last played the US Open in 2019.

“So many unforgettable moments of my career happened in New York, and Arthur Ashe Stadium is a place that means a great deal to me," he said in a statement. “I’ve missed being part of that atmosphere and feeling the incredible energy that the fans bring every year.”

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 29 in Newport, Rhode Island.

The USTA said there will be further announcements about the lineup for the event, which is during the week before singles play in the tournament begins.

Sports

Diarra Settles 65 mn Euros Transfer Case with FIFA and Belgian FA

Lassana Diarra was pursuing FIFA and the Belgian football association for 65 million euros in compensation © Bertrand GUAY / AFP/File
Lassana Diarra was pursuing FIFA and the Belgian football association for 65 million euros in compensation © Bertrand GUAY / AFP/File
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Diarra Settles 65 mn Euros Transfer Case with FIFA and Belgian FA

Lassana Diarra was pursuing FIFA and the Belgian football association for 65 million euros in compensation © Bertrand GUAY / AFP/File
Lassana Diarra was pursuing FIFA and the Belgian football association for 65 million euros in compensation © Bertrand GUAY / AFP/File

Former France international Lassana Diarra has reached agreement with FIFA and the Belgian football association in his long-running 65 million euro ($76 million) legal battle, a source close to the case told AFP on Monday.

The former Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder's challenge to FIFA prompted world football's governing body to amend its transfer rules after a landmark Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) legal ruling in October 2024, but he had been unable to reach a settlement.

The CJEU found that FIFA rules impede the free movement of players by "imposing considerable legal risks, unforeseeable and potentially very high financial risks as well as major sporting risks on those players and clubs wishing to employ them", thereby disrupting the transfer system.

The 35-times capped former France international announced last October that he was turning to the Belgian courts to enforce the CJEU ruling.

Contacted by AFP, FIFA indicated that "following the comprehensive agreement they reached, Mr. Lassana Diarra and FIFA have settled all legal proceedings between them," adding that FIFA "does not acknowledge any wrongdoing and has not made any compensation payments".

Diarra's lawyers told AFP they could not comment at this stage.

The origin of this case lies in Diarra's dispute over the terms of his departure from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2014.

Due to a drastic reduction in his salary, Diarra left the Moscow club, but the club deemed the termination unfair and demanded 20 million euros from him, later reduced to 10.5 million euros.

As a result, Belgian club Charleroi ultimately decided against signing the French player for fear of having to bear part of these sanctions.

Following the CJEU's decision known as the "Diarra ruling," FIFA adjusted its regulations on player transfers.

The Justice for Players Foundation also launched a class action lawsuit aimed at achieving greater fairness in transfers, an initiative joined by various national professional footballers' unions, including the French union (UNFP).