Iran hit with international ban

Iran have been suspended from all international football activity because of government interference in running the game in the country.

World ruling body Fifa made the decision at a meeting of the Emergency Committee on Wednesday evening.

Iran took part in last summer's World Cup in Germany and recently qualified for the 2008 Asian Cup finals.

An Iranian news agency said Iran did not accept the decision, describing it as "completely illegitimate".

In a statement, Fifa said it had decided to "suspend the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation (IRIFF) from all international activity due to government interference in football matters and violation of Article 17 of the Fifa Statutes."

Article 17 relates to the independence of national football associations free of any government interference.

In August, Fifa and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) gave the IRIFF until 15 November to reinstate elected president Mohammad Dadkan and to comply with the relevant provisions of the Statutes.

But as this deadline was not met, the country has been handed a suspension.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6178284.stm