Mali Faces FIFA Ban Over Govt Interference

Mali is facing a possible FIFA suspension after the country’s sports minister missed a deadline to revoke his dissolution of the football federation’s Executive Committee.

Mali Sports Minister Housseini Amion Guindo took his action on Wednesday and duly installed an interim committee to lead the federation (Femafoot) until a new board can be elected.

Femafoot informed Fifa the same day whereupon football’s world governing body gave Mali until Friday to cancel the suspension or face possible consequences.

FIFA outlaws governmental interference in the running of any of its member associations. “We remind you that according to the Fifa statutes, all our member associations must handle their affairs in an independent fashion,” Fifa Secretary General Fatma Samoura informed Femafoot president Boubacar Baba Diarra.

“If they are not in position to do this, they are liable to sanctions, including a possible suspension.