ATHENS, Greece — The IOC provisionally suspended Iraq’s national Olympic committee on for “political interference,” a decision that leaves Iraqi athletes in danger of missing the Beijing Games.

The International Olympic Committee executive board took the action following the Iraqi government’s recent dissolution of the national Olympic body and appointment of an interim group chaired by the minister of sport.

SOCCER

Altidore headed to Spain

NEW YORK — New York Red Bulls striker Jozy Altidore appeared headed for Villarreal, with the Spanish first-division club agreeing to a transfer deal with Major League Soccer for the teenage forward.

Altidore, praised by some as the United States’ best soccer prospect, still must negotiate a contract with Villarreal before he can join the club, the Red Bulls said.

No transfer terms were released but a person with knowledge of the deal said it was worth a minimum of just under $10 million, nearly double the amount previously paid for an American when English club Sunderland bought Claudio Reyna for $5.7 million in 2001. The person could not speak for attribution because league policy is to not disclose financial terms.

Spain tops Americans

SANTANDER, Spain — The United States ended a two-game European trip with its second straight loss, giving up a late goal to Xavi Hernandez in a 1-0 defeat against Spain on Wednesday night.

Hernandez spun through a U.S. crowd at the top of the penalty area before holding off another marker and beating backup goalkeeper Brad Guzan with a low shot.

The Americans lost the opener of the trip 2-0 at England last week. They play Argentina, the world’s top-ranked nation, at East Rutherford, N.J., on Sunday night before starting World Cup qualifying against Barbados on June 15 at Carson, Calif.