Kuwait was banned from participating in international football tournaments by FIFA on several occasions, most notably in October 2007, when a brief suspension of just two weeks was imposed after FIFA determined that the government had interfered in the affairs of the Kuwait Football Association. One year later, another short suspension was imposed because the required independent general assembly elections for the Kuwait Football Association were not held. The third and most painful suspension came after Kuwait failed to amend its sports laws by the FIFA-imposed deadline of October 15, 2015.
The reasons for the suspension was unjustified political interference, including parliamentary oversight and forced elections, which violated FIFA regulations. Kuwait’s membership and participation in all international matches were suspended, and the country was barred from World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers (with its results nullified), club competitions, and development programs. These sanctions were lifted on December 6, 2017, after the National Assembly passed a new sports law that complied with FIFA requirements.
The suspension and related violations were reportedly the result of conflicts within the ruling family that undermined the independence of the Kuwait Football Association, prompting FIFA to enforce its regulations strictly to protect the autonomy of football. What is FIFA, and how did it gain such international influence despite not being a sovereign state, lacking military power, and having no affiliation with the United Nations? FIFA is the global governing body for football, responsible for overseeing major tournaments, including the World Cup. It was founded on May 21, 1904, in Paris, following a meeting of representatives from several European football associations. Zurich, Switzerland, was later chosen as FIFA’s permanent headquarters.
The football associations of France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, and Spain were the first to establish FIFA and sign its founding document in 1904. Initially a European federation, FIFA soon began including associations from outside Europe, such as Argentina, Chile, South Africa, and the United States. Over time, it evolved into a global organization comprising more than 200 national associations. FIFA is a French abbreviation for Fédération Internationale de Football Association. The name has remained in French to this day, despite the organization’s global reach.
The FIFA Council is elected by national football associations within their respective continental regions. Powerful members of the Council have historically played a major role in selecting the host countries for the World Cup matches. FIFA’s reputation has been repeatedly tarnished by scandals involving bribery and large-scale kickbacks. Subsequent reforms have been implemented within FIFA, significantly reducing the risk of similar violations in the future. By Ahmad alsarraf Email:
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