IN BRIEF : China-Iran Soccer Matches Put Off

The World Cup qualifying matches between China and Iran, scheduled for later this month, have been postponed, according to FIFA, the world soccer body.

An FIFA official, who declined to be identified, said today that all the remaining matches in Group 5 of the Asian section of the tournament will be played at a later date “because it is simply impossible to play soccer in China at the moment and Iran has declared a state-mourning period of 40 days.” China is in the midst of internal upheaval, and Iran is mourning the death of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

China had been scheduled to host a game against Iran on June 11, with the away match scheduled for June 21. China was also due to play Thailand on June 28. No new date has been set for the matches.