Cotonou (Benin), May 12 (IANS): World governing body FIFA has decided to suspend Benin Football Federation (FBF) with immediate effect.
"In accordance with Article 38 of FIFA statutes, Benin Football Federation (FBF) is suspended with immediate effect as results of local court injunction that does not allow election to be held," said a FIFA statement on Wednesday, reports Xinhua.
On April 27, in a letter from FIFA acting secretary general Markus Kattner, FIFA requested members of standardisation committee of FBF to hold on May 3-4 the elective congress of the FBF Executive Committee members.
But on the basis of a motion submitted on March 31, the acting president of Porto-Novo Court of First Instance ordered the standardisation committee of FBF to suspend without delay the scheduled election.
Thus, the member of FIFA Executive Committee Constant Omari Selemani and the president of Appeal Committee of Confederation of African Football (CAF) Prosper Abega, special envoys with observation tasks, found on spot that the election was not held.
Already in September 2014, the CAF has banned Benin for two years in all competitions.