By Mark Baber
July 23 – FIFA has warned the Uganda Football Association (FUFA) against government interference which could lead to a worldwide football ban for the country.
Whilst some commentators in Uganda have argued a FIFA ban would be a healthy development for the sport in a country which has been riven by internal division and rival league set ups, the Ugandan Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi last week ordered education and sports minister Jessica Alupo to consult FIFA on all actions that they want to take with regard to football in Uganda.
Alupo sent a letter to FIFA July 16 asking for a meeting to discuss the legality of FUFA, arguing that FUFA has operated as a private company limited by guarantee since 2009 which is inconsistent with Ugandan law and indicating the government wanted to take certain measures but needed clarification first.
FIFA’s Secretary General Jerome Valcke replied in a letter dated July 19, stating that: “Any actions/measures taken unilaterally against the structures and/or the status of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) would be considered as interference in the FUFA affairs and the case would be brought to FIFA’s higher instances for appropriate sanctions, which could include suspension.
“We would like to remind you that all FIFA member associations have to manage their affairs independently and without influence of any third parties as clearly stipulated in articles 13 and 17 of the FIFA Statutes.”
Valcke explained that the legal status of FUFA had already been settled in 2012 when the National Council of Sports explicitly confirmed that they had no problems whatsoever on the status of FUFA Ltd.
Valcke indicated in his letter that a meeting would only be possible once the situation concerning FUFA’s legal status was fully clarified and advised the government to provide clear guidelines on how the federation should proceed should it decide that FUFA still needs to undergo legal changes or modifications.
“Nevertheless, such changes or modifications should not affect the constitutional structure of the federation. FUFA went through deep changes with the adoption of a new constitution in August 2012 which is now in line with the FIFA standard statutes.”
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