FIFA rejects Iraq request
FIFA rejects Iraq request
KUALA LUMPUR: FIFA, football's world governing body, has told
Iraq it must play its 2004 Olympic qualifier against Vietnam next
month at a neutral venue as the threat of war looms closer, an
official said Wednesday.
Iraq had been due to play Vietnam in Baghdad in their first
leg match on April 5, but Iraqi officials have now been ordered
to find another venue for the game, the Asian Football
Confederation spokesman said.
"We are sending a letter to Iraq today asking them to confirm
a new venue outside of Iraq," the AFC official said. The official
said FIFA informed Iraq of its decision last Tuesday. --AFP
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ANPAs..r..
Putbrief-badminton-discrimination
No more discrimination: Shuttlers
JP/9/BRIEF
No more discrimination: Shuttlers
JAKARTA: Local badminton players, most of whom are of Chinese
descent, urged the government on Wednesday to abolish regulations
that discriminate against ethnic Chinese.
"We must show proof of citizenship to enroll in school or when
doing business," Tan Joe Hok, former All England Badminton
champion, told reporters after meeting Vice President Hamzah Haz
at vice presidential palace.
During the meeting, Joe Hok was accompanied by former
badminton champions Lim Swie King, Alan Budi Kusuma, Heryanto
Arby, Hendrawan, Imelda Wiguna, Chandra Wijaya and Ferawati
Fajrin.
Joe Hok said his children had to produce Indonesian
citizenship documents (SKBRI) every time they enrolled in a new
school here, Antara reported.
He earlier reported the case to Minister of Justice and Human
Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who claimed that such discriminative
regulations had been repealed. --JP
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ANPAs..r..
Putbriefs-Soccer-Sunderland
Sunderland to name new manager
JP/9/Brief
Sunderland to name new manager
SUNDERLAND, England: Sunderland has called a news conference
scheduled for 1000 GMT on Wednesday at which it is set to name a
replacement for sacked manager Howard Wilkinson.
"There will be a management announcement," a club spokesman
said on Tuesday.
Media reports say former Ireland coach Mick McCarthy is
favorite to land the post.
Sunderland, which is bottom of the premier league and facing
relegation, sacked Wilkinson and his assistant Steve Cotterill on
Monday after the team managed only two wins in 20 league games
under their leadership. --Reuters
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ANPAs..r..
Putbriefs-Cycling-Kivilev
Kivilev in a coma after fall
JP/9/Brief
Kivilev in a coma after fall
SAINT-ETIENNE, France: Kazakhstan cyclist Andrei Kivilev was
in a coma late Tuesday following his fall in the second stage of
the Paris-Nice race, according to his team doctor here.
Kivilev, the Cofidis team rider who came fourth in the 2001
Tour de France, lost consciousness after his fall and was rushed
to hospital where he has been undergoing tests.
"He has cerebral oedema (tissue bruising)," said the Cofidis
team's doctor Jean-Jacques Menuet, adding that the 29-year-old
was still on a life support system.
"We still have to wait a few hours before we can make a full
diagnosis," he added. --AFP