Iraq coach resigns after death threats Soccer Notebook
Jul. 30, 2006. 01:00 AM
Iraq's national soccer coach has quit his post after receiving death threats against him and his family.
Akram Ahmed Salman submitted his resignation Friday to the secretary general of the Iraqi Football Federation, Ahmed Abbas, and left the capital.
"He resigned due to a threat he received to quit training the Iraqi soccer team," said Abbas, adding that Salman was told, "`We know you, your family members and your address. Quit training the Iraqi soccer team otherwise you'll all be eliminated.'"
Earlier this month, gunmen kidnapped the chairman of Iraq's Olympic Committee and at least 30 other officials, including the presidents of the tae kwon do and boxing federations.
Prior to the abductions, Iraq's national wrestling coach, a Sunni, was killed in a Shiite district of Baghdad.
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Associated Press
