FIFA threatens Albania of suspension

ZURICH, Switzerland, Feb. 25 – A senior UEFA official said that Albania could likely be suspended from international soccer activities unless the government stopped interfering in the local association.
UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press that, earlier this month, FIFA had warned Albania it could be suspended.
Albania, which could also be suspended on March 14, is a concern for FIFA because the international governing body says the country’s ministry of sport has threatened the independence of its soccer federation. Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha even accused the soccer federation of fixing matches during the Euro 2008 qualifying tournament, but critics claim the move is politically motivated because federation president, Armando Duka, had a brother in the previous Albanian administration.
Albania lost to Belarus 4-2 and Romania 6-1during the qualifying matches. FIFA says it has asked for proof of match-fixing but received none, and Gaillard reiterated that no Euro 2008 qualifiers were under suspicion. He also said that Spain, ranked fourth in the world, was also threatened with sanctions.
Greece was suspended by FIFA on July 3, 2006, because it said a law interfered in the affairs of the country’s soccer federation. The suspension was lifted nine days later when the Greek parliament amended the law.
If FIFA believes a government is interfering, there isn’t much a country can do except comply and compete, or stand fast and sit out.