FIFA 2010 World Cup: FIFA to ban Nigeria & exclude them from the organization, if Nigerian government doesn’t lift the 2 year ban on the team
The most recent response from FIFA against the Nigerian government’s involvement in the country’s football is the institution telling them to back off and remove the two year ban from the country or FIFA itself will impose a ban on the team.
The spokesman of FIFA Nicolas Maingot told the Nigerian President Goodluck that if he doesn’t remove the two year ban from Nigerian Football Federation the FIFA board will exclude FIFA from international events, he further stated, “Failure to do so will result in the suspension of the NFF”.
The rules set by FIFA guard footballing nations and FIFA members from direct involvement if footballing matters. It is also interesting to know that they have the power to suspend players and directly involve themselves in affairs of the players. Also no national or club teams can play in the international events if a ban like this happens and no officials can be present in the board meetings.
The President of Nigeria stated last Wednesday that he was banning the team and abolishing the NFF, while he instigated an investigation into NFF, as he announced that the team was in no condition to play at an international event and had embarrassed the nation. He also stated that NFF had fallen in to severe corruption and he will weed out the perpetrators.
Maingot explained that FIFA will take action against all those governments that interfere with the countries international football. He said that football was not to be a government run organization.
The Nigerian government has set out a panel, as well as FIFA who have sent a 24 member panel to reconcile the issue. Amos Adamu a representative told that the issue was to be solved soon and the mediation process was ready to go.
The Nigerians were disqualified from the tournament after losing the first two matches and them drawing up with South Korea managing a 2-2.
The Nigerian government, have however said that they will not remove the ban. Sources have revealed that the Nigerian government will not remove the ban from the team in spite of the threats by FIFA, claiming that they will ban the country and exclude them from the organization.
The Nigerian president has told in response to the FIFA panel that they do not fear threats by them and if they want to mediate at the matter, they should do it with respect.
In response, FIFA has simply stated that if the Nigerian government fails to comply to the rules of the body, they will be excluded from all FIFA related activities effective immediately.
Sources from the presidency have relayed, “Mr President will not rescind the decision because it is the best decision for football development in Nigeria”.
The spokesman also said that this might be the initial decision of the President but he is further reviewing the punishment, “Mr President and his team have weighed the consequences of this decision and arrived at this decision as in the interest of the nation. We need to restructure and reorganize our football for effective and commendable results”.
Despite a hopeful performance in the final stages of the tournament in South Africa, the Super Eagles displayed a poor performance which let down many supporters in Africa.
FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot said that FIFA has given the Nigerian government a letter with instructions to withdraw its decision or FIFA and CAF will draw their supports for the nation.
Jonathan also met the Nigerian organising committee for the World Cup. He told that a team of 11 members that will compromise of the main committee and manage and care for the tournament from now on will be formed. He said that the administrative structure was flawed and it would take some time to reform it.
Maingot stated that FIFA would not recognise the committee, but would send an executive member of the world body to attempt last minute mediation on Monday.
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