BRAZZAVILLE (Reuters) – The Republic of Congo said on Monday that it will hold discussions with world’s football governing body FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to lift sanctions that bar its federation from international competitions.
FIFA, in consultation with Africa’s football governing body, on Friday suspended Congo due to third-party interference in the central African nation’s football affairs, which violates its obligations under FIFA’s rules. Congo denies this.
FIFA said the suspension would only be lifted if a number of conditions were met, including the return of full control of the federation’s headquarters and other facilities to the national football federation FECOFOOT.
Congo Sports Minister Hugues Ngouelondele told a press conference that authorities will “very quickly get in touch with the leaders of CAF and FIFA to discuss the lifting of the sanction”.
He added that while the government seeks a compromise, it would not compromise its principles.
The suspension came in the wake of internal disputes within Congo’s national football federation.
The performance of the country’s national football has been underwhelming in recent years, the minister said. It has failed to secure a place in the AFCON continental tournament since their last appearance in 2015.
Despite the troubles facing Congolese football, he dismissed claims of government interference in the federation’s matters. He also stressed that such challenges are not exclusive to Congo.
(Reporting by Christian Elion; Writing by Bate Felix, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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