Greece suspended from International Football

[Spoone]

Greece given suspension by Fifa

 

Fifa has suspended European champions Greece from international competition because of government interference in the domestic running of the sport.

The ruling means Greece cannot play internationals until further notice.

 

Fifa said the Hellenic Football Federation broke rules "regarding the independence of members and decision-making in each country".

 

It means Steve McClaren's first game as England manager, a friendly against Greece on 16 August, is in doubt.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/i...als/5141866.stm

 

 

Does anyone know what they did? Very strange it of news considering everything else FIFA should be dealing with at the moment!

[Jezzman]

Wonder if this means all Greek teams are out of Champions League, UEFA Cup etc?

 

FIFA suspends the Hellenic Football Federation

 

The FIFA Emergency Committee, composed of five presidents and one representative of each of the six confederations, today (3 July 2006) decided to suspend the Hellenic Football Federation (HFF), having determined that the situation of the HFF is not in line with the principles of the FIFA Statutes regarding the independence of member associations and the independence of the decision-making process of the football-governing body in each country.

 

In September 2005, the FIFA Executive Committee gave the HFF a deadline of 15 July 2006 to obtain from the Greek government an amendment to the national law on sports in order to enable the association to be in conformity with the FIFA Statutes and the relevant UEFA regulations.

 

In spite of repeated warnings from both FIFA and UEFA, the commitment expressed by Greek government representatives to amend the law on sport to irrevocably recognise that football matters can only be decided by the HFF and its subordinated football structures has not been respected. In fact, the recently-presented draft of a new law on professional leagues constitutes another example of interference from the government in football affairs. Therefore, the FIFA Emergency Committee has determined that the deadline would not be met by the HFF and that the suspension of this federation was necessary.

 

This decision means that the HFF and all of its members (clubs, players, officials) are suspended with immediate effect and until further notice from all international contact, which also includes participation in international competitions at all levels, the organisation of international matches in Greece and the appointment of officials for international duties.

 

Further information from:

FIFA Media Department

media@fifa.org

 

http://www.fifa.com/en/media/index/0,1369,...rticleid=118144

[Mike]

thats englands next friendly f***ed as well then!

when will it end...

[AnfieldWestGaffer]

That's probably going to ruin Englands next friendly then?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[R A Softlad]

Worst of all is that the CL Final is scheduled for Athens next May isn't it

 

You couldn't make it up...