Top 10 Countries that were banned by FIFA

FIFA has banned plenty of countries over the years and although the ban may have been lifted,  these were some serious cases practiced by many countries, and hence, FIFA had no choice but to ban them for some time. The ban allotted to the country is based on the severity of the situation. 

In this post, we will discuss the top 10 countries that were banned by FIFA.

• Pakistan

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) was based not just once but on two events. Hence, FIFA ultimately decided to suspend the PFF in October 2017, the reason being “undue third-party interference.” However, the ban was lifted the following year. But the election that came next was not granted by FIFA.

Ashfaq Hussain Shah was voted for as President of the PFF and he shortly tossed the normalization panel out of the PFF base– a body assessed by FIFA to ensure its policy was being conformed to judiciously.

This eventually led to the ban because of the bellicose authority which was seen as a severe infringement of its rules. After almost five years, the ban was lifted in July 2022.

• Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe was slapped with a ban by FIFA after its government-operated Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) declined to renounce custody of the Zimbabwe Football Association and put back the federation’s authority.

Officials of ZIFA were withdrawn from office due to mishandling of funds.

SRC had stepped in in ZIFA’s procedure after multiple claims of unwanted sexual advances of females by the technical team and claims of fabrication within the football body.

The SRC was however allotted a deadline of January 3 by FIFA to renounce the power of football back to ZIFA, which was not fulfilled. 

• Kenya 

FIFA suspended the Football Kenya Federation (KFK) in February 2022,  due to government interference in the body’s function, quoting ‘‘third-party interference’’ as a breach of its statutes.

Kenya’s Sports ministry dissolved the KFK after claims of mishandling of reserves and a caretaker board was assigned in November 2021- which was against the rulebook of the football’s association body.

The government’s negligence to give in to the same saw the nation slapped with a ban.

• Benin

In May 2016, Benin Football Federation (FBF) was suspended from international football after the interference of a judicial body in the nation thwarted the forthcoming elections of the federation.

According to the official statement, “The Benin Football Association (FBF) was suspended with immediate effect due to a recent injunction by a local judicial court which impeded the holding of the due election.” 

The ban however was lifted in June 2016. 

• Kuwait 

In October 2015, Kuwait was banned for the third time by FIFA after being banned twice in 2007 and 2008. 

The ban arrived following a government invoice which (as per FIFA) hindered the liberation of the nation’s FA and failing to abide by the rules was seen as a serious offense of the FIFA statutes.

After two years, Kuwait introduced a new law in its Parliament, “fully compliant with the FIFA Statutes and requirements”. 

The ban was lifted in December 2017.

• Indonesia

In May 2015, the intervention by the Indonesian government in the country’s domestic league ushered in the ban of the Indonesian Football Association.

A scuffle between the PSSI (Football Association of Indonesia) and Indonesia’s Sports and Youth Ministry over squads’ eligibility requirements to play against in the Indonesian Super League (ISL) ushered in the revocation of the domestic football season and the nullification of the PSSI.

The ban was lifted in May 2016.

• Guatemala 

FIFA banned the Guatemalan Football Federation (FEDEFUT,) in a quarrel over the authorities delivered to its selected oversight council to skim into claims of corruption.

FEDEFUT failed to recognize what the board had declared in a statement about its suspension which was due to its federation’s associates’ denial to permit an election for a new executive council.

The ban was lifted in July 2018.

• Nigeria

FIFA banned Nigeria in July 2014, pointing out government meddling in the functioning of its national federation.

After Nigeria was eliminated from the World Cup in 2014, the nation’s high court presided over that its federation would discontinue functioning the national squad, delivering over the procedures to a government civil employee which was seen as an evident violation of the FIFA policy. 

The federation was ultimately reinstated and FIFA lifted the ban in just 10 days.

• Iraq 

Fifa disqualified Iraq due to the government’s meddling in the domestic procedures of the tournament by disbanding the national Olympic council and all sports alliances.

But after the international governing body obtained documentation that the nation’s football federation was excused from the disbanded federations, FIFA lifted the ban.

After a year, the IFA was again disbanded by the nation’s Olympic committee and FIFA banned the federation for government intervention. The ban was lifted a year later in March 2010.

• Brunei 

In September 2009, FIFA banned the Football Association of Brunei (BAFA) due to the government’s meddling in its affairs.

In an official statement, FIFA said, “It started with a decision by the Brunei authorities to dissolve BAFA and to replace it with a new federation in December 2008.” FIFA lifted the ban in May 2011.