FIFA barred Iraq from holding any Friendly Football Matches

World soccer body FIFA on 3 July 2013 again barred Iraq from holding any friendly football matches due to soaring violence, just three months after the ban was lifted. The ban will be in force until further notice. FIFA has issued a resolution to prevent any friendly matches in Iraq after increasing attacks on playgrounds and an assault in which Mohamed Abbas, the coach of the Karbala football club, was killed.

FIFA decided on 21 March 2013 to lift a ban that had been imposed on Iraq to prevent it from hosting any friendly matches. On 26 March 2013 Iraq hosted a friendly between Iraq and Syria and the home team won 2-1. On 27 May 2013, the Iraq lost 0-1 to visiting Liberia in another friendly in Iraq.

Violent bomb attacks are still common in Iraq despite the dramatic decrease in violence since its peak in 2006 and 2007when the country was engulfed in sectarian killings. The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) stated 761 Iraqis were killed and another 1771 were wounded in acts of terrorism and violence in June 2013.