Iraq (IRQ): The
2002–03 Iraqi First Division League was stopped on 28 March 2003 as a result of the
2003 invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of
Saddam Hussein's government which led to the formation of a new
IFA committee.
Al-Shorta and
Al-Najaf were first and second respectively at the outbreak of the war and so were chosen to represent
Iraq in the AFC Champions League. However the IFA later deemed that Al-Najaf were not ready to participate and thus gave the slot to
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya who were 5th at the time of the cancellation and the next highest-placed team in the table that had not already been admitted into a continental or regional competition.