Football’s world governing body has dished out a ban forbidding Peru from taking place in international competition.
FIFA’s president Sepp Blatter warned last week that unless a long-running feud between the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF) and the nation’s government was resolved then drastic action would have to be taken.
“The problem in Peru is there is political intervention in the organization of football.” Blatter said.
He added, “The situation hurts me. It always hurts when FIFA has to intervene because of political actions.”
A butting of heads between the government and the FPF led to a statement from the South American Football Confederation (CSF) yesterday stating Peru had been temporarily expelled from international competition.
“FIFA has suspended Peru from all activity.” CSF secretary general Eduardo de Luca told reporters outside his organizations’ headquarters in Paraguay.
The dispute between Peru’s law makers and its football federation centers on FPF president Manuel Burga. Alan Garcia’s government believes Burga’s election was irregular.
This led to Peruvian government’s Institute of Sports (IPD) stepping into FPF affairs. The IPD have stated that they kept their interference to a minimum but had to act in the interest of their people.
“There is absolutely no intervention by the government. What there is, is respect for Peruvian law. He [Burga] cannot be director.” IPD president Arturo Woodman said.
He added, “If Burga’s position is going to remain the same as before… this is a dialogue of the deaf.”
For his part Manuel Burga is equally defiant that the blame for Peruvian football’s current plight should not land at his door.
“I want to apologize to the Peruvian people for the situation which we are going through. The principle problem is that Peruvian law is not compatible with FIFA statutes, and so anyone who was in my place would be in the same situation.” Manuel Burga said.
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