FIFA - The FIFA Emergency Committee, composed
of the FIFA President and one representative of each of the six
confederations, yesterday (22 November 2006) decided to suspend the Islamic
Republic of Iran Football Federation (IRIFF) from all international activity
due to government interference in football matters and violation of Article
17 of the FIFA Statutes.
The FIFA Emergency Committee took this
decision after determining that the IRIFF was not adhering to the principles
of the FIFA Statutes regarding the independence of member associations, the
independence of the decision-making process of the football governing body
in each country and the way in which changes in the leadership of
associations are brought about.
The FIFA Emergency Committee further approved the following road map:
- Establishment of an IRIFF Normalisation Committee appointed by FIFA and
the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the composition of which reflects
the role of football�s stakeholders;
- Drafting of new statutes on the basis of the FIFA Standard Statutes;
- Organisation of new elections under the supervision of FIFA and the AFC
after the approval of the above-mentioned new IRIFF statutes.
In August 2006, FIFA and the AFC gave the IRIFF a deadline of 15 November
2006 to reinstate its elected president, Dr Mohammed Dadgan, and to comply
with the relevant provisions of the FIFA Statutes. In this respect, FIFA and
the AFC adopted the clear position that Dr Dadgan and the members of his
board remained the recognised and legitimate president and leadership of the
IRIFF. This deadline was not met by the IRIFF.
The lifting of this suspension would depend on the above road map being
accepted and fully implemented by the relevant authorities in Tehran.
