FIFA bans Benin indefinitely over court ruling halting polls

World football governing body FIFA has slapped Benin Football Federation (FBF) with an indefinite ban, citing a court ruling that halted key elections of the federation.

“In accordance with Article 38 of FIFA statutes, Benin Football Federation (FBF) is suspended with immediate effect as a result of local court injunction that does not allow election to be held,” said FIFA.

La Fifa suspend la Fédération du Bénin https://t.co/OnwLaX7×3t

— CAF (FR) (@caf_online_FR) May 11, 2016

In a letter from acting secretary general Markus Kattner on April 27, FIFA requested members of the standardization committee of the FBF to hold the elective congress of the Executive Committee members on May 3-4, reports Xinhua.

Media sources say thatFIFA Executive Committee member Constant Omari Selemani and president of the Appeal Committee of Confederation of African Football (CAF) Prosper Abega, special envoys with observation tasks, found that the election was not held. That followed a court ruling in Porto Novo on Wednesday May 4, that locked the FBF from holding their presidential elections.

Already in September 2014, CAF had banned Benin for two years from all competition.

The ban will be lifted once a new Executive Committee has been installed. The decision was made at the inaugural FIFA Council meeting being held in Mexico.