Fifa threaten Spain with suspension

Fifa rattle their sabre towards Spain.

Spain

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Will Spain’s Euro adventure be cutting short by
red tape? [GALLO/GETTY]

Spain’s sports minister is confident the country’s football teams will not be barred from competition despite threats by Fifa.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter said Sunday that Spain risked suspension if the sports ministry continued to pressure the Spanish football federation into holding early elections.

The national team could be removed from the 2008 European Championship and club sides ejected from European tournaments, Blatter warned.

“I respect everyone’s opinion but I defend Spain’s sovereignty, her laws and the principle of democratic and transparent elections in all the federations,” sports minister Jaime Lissavetzky said in Spanish newspaper As.

“Spain’s rules governing elections are compatible with Fifa’s.”

The sports ministry wants all sporting federations that haven’t qualified for the Olympic Games to hold elections before August.

“I am convinced Spain will play in the European Championship because it earned it on the field,” Lissavetzky said.

Fifa suspended Greece for 48 hours last July in a similar case.

Fifa lifted its suspension after the Greek parliament amended a law regulating professional sports organisations.

Source: News Agencies