FIFA's executive board met in Sydney on Monday and decided to ban Iraq from all international competitions in response to the Iraqi government’s move to dissolve the country’s National Olympic Committee and all of its national sport federations.

The board will recommend to the FIFA congress, which convenes on Friday, that Iraq be suspended from all competitions for one year, world football's governing body president Sepp Blatter said on Monday.

"We have asked the government to withdraw its decision against the Iraq Football Association and we believe the IOC has also made the same request and threatened the same punishment (suspension) as FIFA," Blatter told Australian newspapers.

The ban means Iraq will miss their remaining 2010 World Cup qualifiers and this year’s Beijing Olympics.

However, FIFA's decision can be overturned if, by Thursday, they received a "written confirmation from the Iraqi government that the decree has been annulled."

Blatter expressed his sadness regarding the situation.

"Iraq are the Asian champions and brought so much hope and joy to their country when they won the final in Malaysia last year," he said.

"I am confident there is enough pressure on the government to help them change their mind."