FIFA has threatened the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) with suspension if it does not comply with its rules, Iranian daily Radio Farda reported on Sunday.
The international governing body of football rejected the amended statutes sent by the FFIRI last month and gave the football body a deadline of June 5 to comply or face suspension.
FIFA had previously stopped the FFIRI from holding its elections over concerns of government interference in the organization.
FIFA called on the FFIRI to address eight issues, including the reduction of the role of the Iranian Sports Minister in internal FFIRI affairs.
The amended statutes did not mention the independence of the FFIRI from the Iranian government. FIFA rules decree that a national football federation should remain autonomous from the national government.
Last month Ali Kafashian, who was in charge of running the FFIRI for almost a decade, told a local radio show in Tehran, that despite FIFA's regulations, the Iranian football association had always been under the government's direct control.
“We deem that a failure to comply with this directive would result in the matter being brought to the attention of the relevant FIFA bodies for further action,” FIFA said in a letter sent to the FFIRI.
FIFA threatens Iran’s Football Federation with suspension
https://arab.news/84v7r
FIFA threatens Iran’s Football Federation with suspension
- The international governing body of football rejected an amended statutes sent by the FFIRI last month
- FIFA had previously stopped the FFIRI from holding its elections over concerns of government interference in the organization
Barcelona pounces on Real Madrid stumble and regains lead of La Liga with a 3-0 win over Levante
- Barcelona moved one point ahead of Madrid, which had won eight in a row in the league before losing to Osasuna
MADRID: Barcelona took advantage of Real Madrid’s stumble and regained the Spanish league lead with a comfortable 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Levante on Sunday.
Marc Bernal, Frenkie de Jong and Fermín López scored a goal each as Barcelona ended a two-game losing streak to get back in front of rival Madrid, which lost 2-1 at Osasuna on Saturday.
Barcelona moved one point ahead of Madrid, which had won eight in a row in the league before losing to Osasuna.
Barcelona was coming off a 2-1 loss to Girona in the league and a 4-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.
“It was important to win and earn three points again,” Barcelona defender João Cancelo said. “Soccer gives you these opportunities to rebound and that’s what we did today, playing well again after two bad games.”
Barcelona had earned a clean sheet only once in its previous six games in all competitions.
Good start for Barcelona
Bernal scored from close range four minutes into the match at the Camp Nou Stadium. The 18-year-old Bernal had scored his first goal with the first team two rounds ago in a win over Mallorca.
“They had an early chance but my goal helped us settle and gain some confidence,” Bernal said.
De Jong added to the lead from inside the area in the 32nd and López sealed the victory with a beautiful long-range shot in the 81st, with the ball ricocheting off the post before going into the net.
Levante’s Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan kept Barcelona from adding the fourth with a pair of outstanding saves in a row in the final minutes, first off a header by Raphinha and then off a point-blank strike from López on the rebound.
It was the fourth straight defeat for Levante, which sits in 19th place. It is one point ahead of last-place Oviedo, which has a game in hand.
Levante has only one victory in its last eight matches.
Pedri entered the match in the 66th to make his return to action after an injury layoff.
Other results
Sevilla won 1-0 at 10-man Getafe for its second win in its last 10 matches in all competitions.
Djibril Sow scored a 64th-minute winner for the visitors. Getafe played a man down from the 26th after a straight red card for Djene Dakonam.
The result left Sevilla in 11th place, immediately above Getafe.
Third-place Villarreal, Barcelona’s next league opponent, can restore a three-point gap to fourth-place Atletico Madrid if it beats Valencia at home later Sunday. Atletico beat Espanyol 4-2 at home on Saturday.
