FIFA lifts NFF suspension

Category: Sports Published on Saturday, 30 October 2010 06:00 Written by Ibraheem A. Fatai Hits: 711

The FIFA Executive Committee yesterday lifted the suspension on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after receiving confirmation that the court actions against elected members of the NFF had ceased and that they could now work without hindrance.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) early this week informed FIFA that they had met all the demands that would avert a ban on the country, following the withdrawal of NANF’s case against the NFF.

Acting secretary general of the NFF, Musa Amadu, in the letter sent to FIFA, disclosed that they were still waiting on FIFA to pronounce total lifting of the ban as all impediments have been cleared.

FIFA and Nigeria have had troubled relations since the national team slumped to a first-round exit at the World Cup in June.

Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan threatened to pull all national teams from competition and investigate the federation for corrupt misuse of team funds. Jonathan backed down only when FIFA threatened a ban to defend federation officials.

FIFA had provisionally lifted the ban until Tuesday, October 26, a day after the case was withdrawn from the Lagos High Court.

After the FIFA Executive Committee meeting, chaired by President Joseph S. Blatter, the world football ruling body decided to lift the ban completely.

“Regarding other pending cases, the Football Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FFBH) will have until 31 March 2011 to bring its statutes into line with the FIFA Statutes or face automatic suspension and the establishment of an interim committee,” FIFA said.

The committee also confirmed that the Federation of Togo Football (FTF) has until 6 November 2010 to organise the elections of the FTF or risk an automatic suspension.

“No list of candidates presented after 15 October 2010 will be accepted for these elections,” FIFA warns