Cotonou, May 11 (IANS) World football governing body FIFA decided to suspend the Benin Football Federation (FBF) with immediate effect on Wednesday.
"In accordance with Article 38 of FIFA statutes, Benin Football Federation (FBF) is suspended with immediate effect as result of local court injunction that does not allow election to be held," said FIFA.
The sport's governing body, in a letter from FIFA acting secretary general Markus Kattner on April 27, requested members of the standardization committee of the FBF to hold the elective congress of the FBF Executive Committee members on May 3-4, reports Xinhua.
But on the basis of a motion submitted on March 31, the acting president of Porto-Novo Court of First Instance ordered the standardization committee of FBF to suspend the scheduled election.
Thus, FIFA Executive Committee member Constant Omari Selemani and president of the Appeal Committee of Confederation of African Football (CAF) Prosper Abega, special envoys with observation tasks, found that the election was not held.
Already in September 2014, CAF had banned Benin for two years from all competitions.
