Fairytale over, Asian Cup champions Iraq says no to Nehru Cup

New Delhi, Aug 3 (UNI) Iraq, who fashioned one of most amazing fairytale achievements in sports by winning the Asian Cup last month, have refused participation in the ONGC Nehru Cup International football tournament to be held here later this month.

Iraqi federation did not respond to invitations sent by All India Football Federation (AIFF) to take part in the revived Nehru Cup, to be held under floodlites at Ambedkar Stadium here from August 17 to 29.

Another Asian powerhouse Iran was reluctant to send their national team and AIFF said they were renogitiating with that country to send their national squad.

''We had sent invitation to 14 countries including Iraq and Iran. Iraq did not respond to our invatation,'' AIFF Secretary Alberto Colaco told reporters at a press conference to unveil the logo of the tournament.

''Their federation is now based in Jordan and 90 per cent of their players are based outside their country. Some are playing in Iran, Gulf countries and East African countries. So, I think they had problems in coming here,'' he added.

''As for Iran, they at first said they would send a club side but that is not acceptable to us. We are negotiating with them again,'' Mr Colaco added.

Bangladesh, Kirgystan, Combodia and Syria have confirmed their participation and the tournament would either have five or six teams.

Nehru Cup, which was last held in 1997, is being revived this year with a new sponsor in ONGC. It is being organised with an aim to improve Indian football's profile and its position in FIFA rankings and AIFF said all the participating teams will send their national squads.

Starting in 1982, Nehru Cup was held annually before turning into a biennial event in 1989.

The prize money of the tournament will be 100,000 dollars.

The winners, runners-up and third-place finisher will get cash prizes, as also man-of-the-match.

Every team which wins a match will also get cash prize.

The schedule of the tournament will be announced on August 9.

Mr Colaco said the participating teams will have practice sessions at Delhi Public School, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and Janaki Devi College. Zakir Hussain College and Modern School grounds will be kept as reserved grounds.

UNI