FIFA lifts Mali Football Federation suspension

FIFA has lifted its suspension of Mali’s Football Federation (FEMAFOOT) which took effect on March 17 this year.

Mali was banned from global football after the country’s Sports Minister dissolved the Executive Committee of FEMAFOOT.

The move was in line with FIFA’s dislike for government interference in the game of football.

The lifting of the suspension however comes on the heels of a reversal of the Malian Sports Minister’s decision to dissolve the Executive Committee.

“The Bureau of the Council was informed of the new decision of the Minister of Sports (28 April 2107), which annuls decisions (8 March 2017) that they had dissolved the FEMAFOOT Executive Committee and set up a provisional committee to manage the day-to-day affairs of the federation and to facilitate the election of a new executive committee Within twelve months. Therefore, the Executive Committee of FEMAFOOT, chaired by you, has been resettled,” a statement from FIFA’s General Secretary, Fatma Samoura read.

“In these circumstances, the Bureau of the Council decided to lift the suspension of FEMAFOOT with immediate effect. Consequently, FEMAFOOT again benefits from all of its membership rights in accordance with Art. 13 of the FIFA Statutes”, the statement further noted.

FIFA’s action thus clears Mali to participate in the upcoming U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournament scheduled to kick off in Gabon from May 14.

The West African nation was due to be replaced by Ethiopia if the suspension had continued beyond April 30.