WC | Fifa warns Tunisia and threatens to throw the team out of the World Cup
Tunisia could be banned from the football World Cup in Qatar if the country’s authorities intervene and make decisions on behalf of the country’s football federation.
It reports BBC Friday.
Fifa requires that all member states are independent of legal and political influence.
The sports minister’s statements cause unrest
The warning comes after Tunisia’s sports minister, Kamel Deguiche, has repeatedly recently made statements about “dissolving federal agencies”.
Fifa interprets the statement as an attempt to interfere in the operation of the country’s football association and has asked the football association to come up with a clarification on the situation.
The Tunisian Football Association has also been reminded that they are obliged to be independent of the influence of third parties. They are asked to give an answer during Friday.
– Any failure to comply with these obligations may result in penalties under Fifa laws, including suspension, says a letter from Fifa director Kenny Jean-Marie.
Meets Denmark and France
A possible ban from Fifa will mean that neither the national team nor Tunisian clubs can compete in international tournaments.
Fifa earlier this year suspended Kenya and Zimbabwe due to interference from the authorities in the respective football associations.
In August, India was also suspended, but the ban was lifted before the country hosted the U17 Girls’ Championship.
Tunisia is in Group D and is scheduled to face Denmark in its first match on 22 November. Australia and France then take turns in the next two games.
The North African country has qualified for the World Cup five times previously, but never progressed from the group stage.