3 Iraqi soccer players tried to defect in Australia

http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-7091290,00.html

Iraq to punish 3 soccer players over asylum bid

By Wisam Mohammed

BAGHDAD, Nov 20 (Reuters) - The Iraqi Football Association said on Tuesday it plans to block three players from joining foreign clubs and may try to ban them from international matches after they sneaked off after an Olympic qualifier in Australia with plans to seek asylum.

The association's Secretary-General Ahmed Abbas said it was considering "severe punishment" against the players, who secretly left their team hotel just hours after losing 2-0 in a 2008 Olympic qualifier on Saturday.

Midfielder Ali Abbas, one of the heroes of Iraq's stunning Asian Cup triumph in July, was among the defectors.

The other two players were identified as Ali Mansur and Ali Khadher. Assistant coach Sadi Toma also went missing, the association said on Sunday.