9 Countries That Have Been Sanctioned By FIFA, How Heavy Is The Punishment?

FIFA president, Gianni Infantino (Halfantino). (Photo: Twitter/@FIFAcom)

YOGYAKARTA - Indonesia with a high risk is threatened with FIFA sanctions in the aftermath of the revocation of its status as the host of the 2023 U-20 World Cup. Sanctions from FIFA will certainly harm football in the country, both in the international arena and in the career of its players. This bitter experience was also felt by several countries that had been sanctioned by FIFA.

PSSI chairman Erick Thohir visited Europe to negotiate regarding possible FIFA sanctions received by Indonesia. Previously in 2015, Indonesia was given sanctions from FIFA because of dualism in PSSI and intervention from the government. Many parties think that the sanctions for FIFA to Indonesia this time will be heavier than in 2015.

Reflecting on the track record of the international football world, there are nine countries that have been sanctioned by FIFA. A number of countries are subject to FIFA sanctions because they are caused by political factors and others related to the implementation of football.

Russia is the last country to date to be sanctioned by FIFA. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is the cause of FIFA and UEFA to revoke the permission of all Russian football clubs and their national teams.

Various major European countries such as England, Sweden and Poland have vehemently refused to compete against Russia. FIFA also rewarded the Russian football national team's punishment for being banned from appearing in world cup titles. Spartak Moscow's club also cannot participate in competitions in the Europa League.

Kenyan countries will be sanctioned by FIFA in 2022. The punishment was given for the intervention carried out by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) to the Zimbabwe Football Association regarding allegations of sexual offenses. The sanctions received by Zimbabwe are still valid today.

In 2017, FIFA imposed sanctions on Pakistan. The Asian state had to accept punishment from thefa because it was caused by a third party. The case rolled after the office and account of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) which was under the control of the administrator, who was appointed to appear before the FIFA court.

The sentence against Pakistan was finally lifted by FIFA in 2018. However, FIFA again rewarded Pakistan with sanctions after a group took over the federation's headquarters from the Normalization Committee. Pakistan's sentence was only released in 2022.

Kuwait was sanctioned by FIFA in 2016. Sanctions were given to Kuwaiti football due to intervention from the government. As a result of this sentence, Kuwait could not appear in the match against Myanmar in the 2018 World Cup qualifying round.

In 2016, Guatemala was punished by FIFA. Sanctions were given after the transition committee formed was not recognized by officials of the Guatemalan Football Federation. The formation was deemed to have violated the rules of the state regulatory body. FIFA lifted sanctions against Guatemalan football in 2018.

Indonesian football once had a bad record as a country that was sanctioned by FIFA in 2015. The Indonesian national team was prohibited from participating in the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers, although in the end the ban was lifted in 2016. The reason FIFA imposed sanctions on Indonesia was due to government interference in PSSI's dualism.

In 2011, FIFA sanctioned Myanmar football. The punishment was given because Myanmar fans acted anarchically in Myanmar's match against Oman in the Asian Cup qualifying round. As a result of the chaos, the match was stopped and Oman was declared the winner. Myanmar was banned from participating in the same tournament in 2018.

Iraq has been a country that has received sanctions twice from FIFA. In 2008 ahead of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Australia, FIFA frozen Iraqi football. Sanctions were given as the Iraqi government dissolved the National Olympic Committee and national sports federations.

Iraq's second sanction was received in 2009. FIFA assessed that the Iraqi government's decision to dissolve the Olympic Committee was due to government interference. The sentence imposed on Iraq was only lifted in 2010.

Far back in 1990, Mexico had received sanctions from FIFA. Mexico had to bear the punishment of not being able to participate in the 1990 World Cup in Italy. FIFA had to impose sanctions because Mexico was known to play four senior players in the 1989 World Youth Championship qualifying round.

That is the list of countries that have been sanctioned by FIFA. The Indonesian people hope that the sanctions given by FIFA will not be burdensome. President Jokowi asked Erick Thohir to communicate intensely with FIFA regarding the possible sanctions received.

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