Iraq war prompts Maldives to cancel Iran trip

IRNA - The Maldives announced on Tuesday that it will not dispatch its under-23 football team to Iran, said Public Relations Office of Iran's Football Federation. 
According to IFF, the Maldives has canceled the trip due to regional critical situation and war in Iraq. 
Earlier the Iranian federation had announced that the Maldives would arrive in the country on Thursday, April 10, to play the first leg of preliminary round of 2004 Athens Olympics qualifiers in Naqsh-e Jahan Stadium, Isfahan, on Saturday. 
Iranian federation said it is now waiting for a written and official letter from the federation of the Maldives and decision of the Asian Football Confederation. 
The two teams were to play the second leg in the Maldives on April 19.