The World Cup is less than a month away, but Fifa is breathing down the Tunisian Football Federation’s neck, threatening the country’s football governing body with suspension from the November World Cup finals if the Tunisian government continues to interfere in local football affairs.
The world’s football governing body has set rules that do not allow the governments or even the federation of football in member countries to meddle in the local football affairs or in clubs.
The aim is to give the clubs and the game of football a free-wheel without massive interference in the running of their affairs from governing officials.
As per FIFA rules, federations of all member nations must be free of any third-party or government involvement.
On Sunday, a Reuters report says Fifa gave the TFF a warning that the national Tunisian team’s participation at World Cup 2022 could be under threat if there is found to be government interference within the organisation.
Fifa has asked the TFF to explain a possible case of interference in the entity in a letter to the federation.
Minister of Youth and Sport Kamel Deguiche has threatened to change the leaders of the Tunisian Football Federation. A possible interference that Fifa does not accept.
“It has been brought to our attention that the state authorities seem to want to interfere in the affairs of the Tunisian Football Federation, in particular by considering the dissolution of the Federal Bureau of the FTF.
Tunisia’s Response
“In this respect, we would like to remind you that the member associations of Fifa are statutorily obliged to manage their affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties,” a letter from the Tunisian Football Federation, Wadii Jarii says.
Tunisia qualified for the World Cup and is in Group D along with world champions France, Australia and Denmark, whom they face in their November 22 opener.
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