Syria seeks football transfer

Syria faces Iraq in a friendly on Tuesday Damascus - Arabstoday The Syrian national football team looks set to submit a request to football's governing body for its matches to be played in Iraq, Arabstoday has learnt. Media spokesperson for the Syrian team, Bashar Mohamed, has explained that the decision to seek approval from FIFA comes after the organisation had lifted the ban on allowing international football matches to take place in Iraq. Syria will travel to Iraq to play in a friendly match on March 26, in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil. Mohamed says that FIFA has only authorised the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) to host friendly matches for now, with IFA officials hopeful of securing approval to host competitive matches in the future. The spokesperson told Syrian newspaper Teshreen that Syria's friendly against Iraq was given the green light by FIFA, after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had submitted a written statement in support of IFA's campaign. Mohamed believes that FIFA's decision could pave the way for Syrian team coach Hossam el-Sayed to request the transfer of Syria's national team football matches from Iran to Iraq, seem as most of his players play in the Iraqi league. Last week, FIFA's ruling executive committee lifted its ban on Iraq from hosting international matches since September 2011, by declaring that the country is now safe enough to host international games. Iraq has been playing its 'home' qualifiers at a neutral stadium in Doha, Qatar.