FIFA lifts ban on Football Sri Lanka with immediate effect

By Althaf Nawaz

  World Football Governing Body FIFA announced yesterday that the ban imposed on Sri Lanka has been lifted with immediate effect. This momentous information was communicated to FSL and to their member countries.  

Based on the decisions taken by the Bureau of FIFA Council on 27 August 2023, they have opted to relax the suspension but revealed that the local authorities have to be vigilant to comply in accordance with FIFA guidelines until the elections of office bearers is over on 29 September.

This will undoubtedly make the football loving public jubilant, and as a country it is expected that all stakeholders will embark to restart football, both domestically and internationally. Since the suspension was imposed on 21 January 2023 in accordance with Article 16 para 1 of FIFA statutes, FSL was suspended for flagrant violation of FIFA statutes. They kept the suspension in place until some conditions were met. Subsequently, the Bureau took notice of the Extraordinary Gazette issued on 23 July this year by the Sports Ministry confirming that the office bearers will be elected for a period of four years. The position of General Secretary/CEO will be filled by an appointment. The election of a new FSL Executive committee will take place based on the status adopted by the FSL general assembly held on 22 September last year. In conclusion it also emphasised on appointing a three-member committee representing FSL administration designated to carry out the daily administrative process and other activities of the FSL, while assisting to conduct the electing of a new Executive committee.

All this was possible after the Sports Ministry and other concerned parties got on to a common platform and informed the Court of Appeal to withdraw the case. Moreover, at the EGM, the affiliated member leagues gave a unanimous verdict to proceed with the election process which FIFA admired most. With the ban now lifted, FSL members, clubs and teams will be entitled to take part in all international competitions. It will also enable FSL members and officials to benefit from all development programs, courses and training provided by AFC/FIFA, including an array of benefits which were halted due to the ban.