FIFA keeping its eye on France

FIFA is keeping a close eye on the situation in France after the national football team was eliminated from the World Cup in the first round amid a storm of controversy. The governing body of soccer warned that it wouldn’t think twice about suspending the 1998 World Cup champions if it finds out the French government is interfering with the team.

After the meltdown of the team, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he was going to personally look into the events that took place in South Africa and met with Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot and Prime Minister Francois Fillon recently to figure out how to reform soccer in France.

The team self destructed during the tournament as they didn’t win a game, the players went on strike and refused to train, and striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home after insulting manager Raymond Domenech. Several other players also got into arguments among themselves and with team officials, including captain Patrice Evra.

FIFA’s laws state that governments can’t interfere with the independence of its members. In 2008, the organization suspended the Iraq national team after it found out the country’s government had involved itself with the team.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke stated that he has talked with Sports Minister Bachelot about the matter already and warned her that FIFA will take action if there’s any interference from the government. Valcke stated that no government official is allowed to ask for a football representative to resign and he hopes he doesn’t have to send an official interference letter reminding them of this.

One of FIFA’s official rules states that national soccer federations are to be operated independently without any influence from third parties such as politicians, media, governments, and states, etc. FIFA members also agreed they will take a tough stance against any federation that is interfered with by these third parties, even if it isn’t the federation’s fault.

Greece was suspended in 2006 for a few days after the country’s government attempted to alter a law that regulated professional sports organizations. In 2008, Iraq was suspended after the government disbanded all of the country’s national sports bodies. However, the problem was solved after a few days.

When a country is suspended by FIFA, its club and national teams can’t play any international games and its officials are banned from soccer meetings. This also includes referees.

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