Government deny Iraqi permit to play for City

Baghdad: Nashat Akram said on Saturday he was disappointed his dream of becoming the first Iraqi to play in England's Premier League had been dashed by a government decision to deny him a work permit.

Premier League club Man City had hoped to sign Akram, who had been on trial with the club and attended training sessions with them, from Dubai's Al Ain.

But Akram vowed to use the Home Office (interior ministry) decision as motivation to raise the profile of Iraqi players.

"It was my big dream to become the first Iraqi player to play in the English Premier League," the 21-year-old said.

"I have the ambition to show the skills of Iraqi players in the strongest league in the world. I will prove that Iraqi players deserve to play in any league in the world," he said.

Manchester City said its appeal against an earlier Home Office decision had been rejected despite representations from manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

"This is a big blow and a great disappointment to us," Eriksson said.

"I have huge sympathy for Nashat. He is a very good footballer with an excellent pedigree."