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FIFA confirms Uruguay will be in the World Cup despite domestic football problems

Friday, April 4th 2014 - 04:20 UTC
Full article 2 comments
Uruguay will be playing at the World Cup, confirmed Blatter Uruguay will be playing at the World Cup, confirmed Blatter

Uruguay's Football Association (AUF) has been suspended by South American soccer body CONMEBOL, a move the AUF said did not affect the national team's participation at the World Cup. The announcement Uruguay would be in Brazil was confirmed by statements from FIFA president Joseph Blatter from Costa Rica.

 “Are you thinking Uruguay is going to be sanctioned? No, Uruguay will be playing the World Cup and will be in its group” said Blatter in Costa Rica on the closing of the Under-17 women's world cup.

“[CONMEBOL] has decided to provisionally suspend the AUF from its rights as a member association, a decision not detrimental [of Uruguay] in the sporting arena,” The AUF said in a statement on its website.

The AUF cannot take part in or vote at a CONMEBOL congress, have a seat on its or FIFA's executive committee or put candidates forward for election to representative positions.

CONMEBOL did not give the reasons for the suspension, which the AUF can appeal against within 72 hours of having received notification on Wednesday night of the body's decision.

The decision has hit Uruguay amid a football leadership crisis that led to Monday's resignation of AUF president Sebastian Bauza and a majority of his board.

The Uruguayan government's move last weekend, since withdrawn, to deny the big two clubs Nacional and Peñarol match policing due to violence by their hardcore fans led to media reports that such interference in football affairs might get Uruguay expelled from the World Cup finals in Brazil.

Uruguay, semi-finalists at the 2010 finals in South Africa, face Costa Rica, England and Italy in Group D at the tournament in Brazil that kicks off on June 12.

Among the reasons for the government back stepping on the police custody issue was the commitment from the AUF board and clubs to approve a FIFA penalties code which can punish teams by making them lose points if their followers are responsible for violent incidents as were recently experienced.

However the issue might not yet be completely over because the Uruguayan government is divided as to how the alleged 'violence' crisis and resignations was addressed.

Although President Jose Mujica said he couldn't keep exposing police officers to 'hooligan violence, and lenient judges', Vice president argued that Uruguayan football with the removal of the original AUF ruling board had lost 'its sovereignty' and indirectly accused Tenfield, a local conglomerate that virtually monopolizes Uruguay's money-short football television rights.

Tenfield is also in the business of buying and selling players with good contacts in Europe and the rest of the Americas.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules
  • Briton

    president Joseph Blatter
    eye think you are as stupid as you look, you are ruining the game of football,

    just my opinion..

    Apr 04th, 2014 - 07:34 pm 0
  • La Patria

    mine too

    Apr 05th, 2014 - 03:23 am 0
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