'We did not know' about Australia's desire to withdraw, says Derjal

INA - BAGHDAD 

Minister of Youth and Sports, Adnan Darjal responded to the news regarding Australia submission of a request to withdraw from the Asian youth qualifiers two weeks before the accident targeting a wheel belonging to its embassy in Baghdad, stressing that Iraq did not know that there was a desire to withdraw.

"We are not aware of what media is handling about Australia's withdrawal preceded the accident of targeting a wheel belonging to its embassy in Baghdad by two weeks. What we received is a request from the Asian Football Confederation for an evaluation regarding the situations in Basra, and we informed them of the answer in the required time," said Derjal in a statement to the Iraqi News Agency- INA. 

He stressed that "accidents that happen in Iraq sometimes are normal, they occur in all countries of the world. We call on the political blocs to look into the interest of the country and for the political blockage to end so that stability returns in order to rebuild and to miss the opportunity for those who do not want good for Iraq."

On the other hand, Derjal also confirmed that the work is ongoing on Al-Mina stadium, and it is hoped to be opened mid-September.

He explained that "There is a large group of Turkish technicians carrying out work in the stadium, and we are following up on the matter continuously. The delivery will be on September 15, God willing, as there is a visit to the Gulf Federation - the technical committee currently at the stadium."