FIFA Suspends Nigeria from International Football
FIFA have suspended Nigeria from international competitions due to government interference in the African nation’s football operations.
Football’s governing body released a statement on Tuesday announcing the suspension, a swift response after court action was taken against several elected members of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) executive committee.
”The FIFA emergency committee decided … to suspend the NFF with immediate effect on account of government interference,” the statement read.
”The suspension will be maintained until the court actions have ceased and the duly elected NFF executive committee is able to work without any interference.”
”During the period of suspension, the NFF will not be able to be represented in any regional, continental or international competitions, including at club level, and also not in friendly matches.”
The NFF committee have been powerless after a Nigerian High Court ruled that the elections which brought chairman Aminu Maigari to power in August were ineligible.
A group known as the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF) subsequently dragged the newly-elected board to court for allegedly defying a court order not to proceed with the elections.
FIFA rules prohibit any government intervention with its member associations.
The suspension could spell disaster for Nigeria’s 2012 African Cup of Nations campaign, with the country likely to forfeit this weekend’s qualifier against Guinea.
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