FIFA probes Iraq torture reports

FIFA probes Iraq torture reports

ZURICH (AFP): Soccer's ruling body, FIFA, has launched an
inquiry into reports that the Iraqi soccer team was tortured by
Uday Hussein after failing to qualify for the 1998 World Cup.

The claims, published in London last weekend, said the players
were beaten on the souls of their feet after losing their Asian
Group Nine match 2-1 to Kazakhstan -- ending their hopes of
qualifying.

Uday Hussein, the eldest son of Suddam Hussein, is the
president of the Iraq Football Federation as well as being
president of the country's national Olympic Committee.

Last year Uday survived an assassination attempt.