Spain is currently ranked fourth in the world rankings and is the only team having problems of this sort and is also on the verge of being kicked out of play in June’s continental championship to be held in Austria and Switzerland.
According to William Gaillard, a spokesman for the European soccer governing body, the threat is very serious and should not be taken lightly and he strongly feels that FIFA will indeed punish Spain if the two parties do not come to an agreement. However, due to the type of team Spain is, FIFA is not going to give them a break until they get to the bottom of the issue, but the organization did assure that the ranking and status of a member does not prevent a team from being suspended.
One of the points at issue is the fact the Spanish government requested that all sports federations that are not involved in this years Olympics suspend their elections until the start of the Beijing Games this coming August, but the main argument is that the four year term for the Spanish soccer federation does not come to an end until November.
Too many Spain is acting in a very stuck up manner in trying to tell who and when should place a hold on its elections and have forgotten that the ruling organization for soccer is FIFA and that it is the only organization that has power to ban teams from international competition.
FIFA also has the utmost respect for national laws and its power almost always leads to governments giving in, besides once you are part of the organization you have agreed to comply by its rules and regulations. Jamie Lissavetzky, Spanish Sport Minister, confirmed that FIFA rules regarding elections are 100% compatible with those of the Spanish law and its electoral process.
Being that FIFA is an active governing body just this month alone it has taken actions against other countries such as the warning of suspension given to Albania and it also took away a temporary suspension that Kuwait had. Turkey’s government was also forced to accept independent soccer statues and FIFA has been monitoring the elections for the soccer officials in Iran, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Burkina Faso.
Other actions being held by FIFA is that it is working with other soccer officials in order to hold elections in the Central African Republic, Indonesia, Palestine, and presently has resolved a government interference case in Peru. Cases that are pending are in Cyprus, Dominica and Togo.
Soccer is not the only sport that Spain has had trouble with this year. Not too long ago it had racial issues in Formula One, but hopefully it will be able to resolve its issues as it is an important part of the soccer world.
