FIFA Thursday lifted its suspension of the Sudan Football Association. The world’s governing body imposed the ban due to government interference in the federation’s leadership squabbles.
This followed the Prime Minister of Sudan Mr Bakri Hassan Salih’s resolution to quash a decision of the Undersecretary of the Ministry Justice directing the police to evacuate SFA premises and hand them over to “self-proclaimed” SFA president Genaral Abdel Rahman Sir Al-Khatim.
“Under these circumstances the Bureau of the Council decided on the 13 July 2017 to lift the suspension of the SFA with immediate effect,” a letter from FIFA directed.
SFA has endured leadership warangles since Abdel Rahman ousted Dr Mutasim Gaafar Sir Al-Khatim in an election FIFA disowned but supported by the government of Sudan.
FIFA demanded reinstatement of Dr Mutasim and his Board of Directors by 30 June 2017, which didn’t happen leading to the suspension being effected.
The decision came heavy on Sudan clubs, who were participating in the continental championships as they stood disqualified automatically.
With the suspension lifted, the country can play international football including the fourth coming CHAN 2018 qualifiers.
