The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) created furore after taking the decision to ban the All India Football Federation (AIFF) over its third-party interference. Well, India isn’t the only country to face the ban by FIFA. Regardless of whether it is the government of those countries or a private entity, FIFA follows a strict policy toward third parties interfering with football. Here’s a list of some countries that have also been sanctioned by FIFA due to third-party interference.

List of countries banned by FIFA over third-party influence

List of Countries Suspended by FIFA Due to ‘Third-Party Interference’

Iraq (2008 & 2009)

Iraq is one of the powerhouses in the middle-east. Despite their stature in Asian football, they were banned by FIFA in 2008 due to Iraqi government interference. In 2008, Iraq dissolved its National Olympic Committee and National Sports Federations, leading FIFA to ban them.

Despite escaping the FIFA sanctions in 2008, Iraq were banned again in 2009. In response to the dissolution of the Iraqi Football Federation by the Iraqi Olympic Committee, FIFA imposed a ban on Iraq. Iraq’s female team, however, received an exception from FIFA.

Brunei (2009)

FIFA suspended the Football Association of Brunei (BAFA) due to government interference in its affairs.”It started with a decision by the Brunei authorities to dissolve BAFA and to replace it with a new federation in December 2008,” FIFA said in a statement.

Nigeria (2014)

FIFA suspended the Guatemalan Football Federation (FEDEFUT,) in a fight over the powers given to its appointed oversight committee to look into allegations of corruption. FEDEFUT did not recognise the committee had said in a statement its suspension was due to its federation’s members’ refusal to allow an election for a new executive committee.

Indonesia (2015)

FIFA imposed a ban on Indonesia after its government abolished the Football Association in 2015 and replaced it with its own committee. Indonesia was given until May 29 to resolve the problem but when the deadline passed, FIFA’s executive committee invoked the suspension.

Guatemala (2016)

FIFA decided to ban Guatemala in October 2016 after the Directors of the Football Federation declined to recognize the committee saying it is against the country’s laws. It took two years for Gautamela to lift the ban. The said directors claimed that it was against the regulations of country’s governing body.

Benin (2016)

Fifa suspended the Benin Football Federation (FBF) from global football after the intervention of a judicial body in the country blocked upcoming elections of the Federation. “The Benin Football Association (FBF) was suspended with immediate effect due to a recent injunction by a local judicial court which impeded the holding of the due election,” read the official statement.

Pakistan (2017)

In October 2017, Pakistan was banned by FIFA from competing in international competitions due to “undue third-party interference.” This was after PFF’s offices and accounts were under the control of a court-appointed administrator, which violated FIFA’s statutes.

Chad (2021)

Chad was disqualified from the Africa Cup of Nations after quarrels between the sports ministry and the football federation led the government to set up a new committee to manage the sport by presidential decree. The government interference led to a ‘third-party intervention’ violation as per the FIFA Statutes leading to the suspension.

Kenya (2022)

In February 2022, FIFA suspended the Football Kenya Federation (KFK) because of government intervention in the body’s operation, citing ‘third-party interference’ as a violation of its statutes. Kenya’s Sports ministry disbanded the KFK after allegations of misappropriation of funds and a caretaker committee was appointed in November 2021 – something that went against the rulebook of football’s apex body.

Zimbabwe (2022)

FIFA banned Zimbabwe in February 2022 after the Zimbabwean FA (ZIFA) was suspended by the country’s government-appointed Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC). The SRC intervened after allegations of sexual harassment of female referees by technical staff and allegations of fraud within ZIFA.