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FIFA suspends Kuwaiti soccer association over government interference

ZURICH – FIFA suspended Kuwait’s football association over government interference with immediate effect on Friday.

While attending a FIFA meeting in Switzerland, Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah of Kuwait said his position on the executive committee was not affected by his federation’s suspension.

FIFA’s executive committee in September had given Kuwait until Oct. 15 to make changes to the Gulf country’s sports law.

“The suspension will be lifted only when the KFA and its members (the clubs) are able to carry out their activities and obligations independently,” FIFA said in a statement.

Kuwaiti teams and clubs are banned from international competition, and the association and its members are barred from receiving any FIFA development assistance.

Kuwait is currently second behind South Korea in Group G of Asian qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. Its next scheduled qualifying match is against Myanmar on Nov. 17.

On Monday, the IOC gave Kuwait a deadline of Oct. 27 to resolve the sports law issue or face suspension from the Olympic body.

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