AFC ban Iraqi clubs from Asian competition

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has banned Iraqi clubs Arbil and Al Najaf from taking part in the AFC Cup because of the country's suspension by FIFA. World governing body FIFA banned Iraq in November after political interference in the running of the country's Football Association.
The AFC had given the Iraqi FA a January 6 deadline to resolve the issues or face expulsion from the second-tier Asian club competition. The suspension of the two clubs meant that Qatar's Al-Rayyan and Uzbeki's Nasaf are promoted into the group stages, which begin next month.