FIFA lifts Belize suspension
Reuters - Thursday 07 July 2011, 19:40
BERNE - Belize's international
suspension has been provisionally lifted by FIFA and their
World Cup qualifier at home to Montserrat will go ahead but on
neutral territory, football's governing body said on Thursday.
The Central Americans were banned on June 17, two days after
beating Montserrat 5-2 in the opening match of the 2014 World
Cup qualifying campaign, over government interference in the
Belize federation (FFB).
FIFA called off the return match in Belize after the
country's government, refusing to recognise either the FFB or
the team as representatives of the country, said it would not
provide security for the game.
"The provisional measure will allow the return leg of the
qualifying tie for the 2014 FIFA World Cup between Belize and
Montserrat, originally due to be played on June 19 2011, to
finally take place," FIFA said.
"This return match will now be played before July 17 2011
outside of Belize in order to avoid the risk of the Belizean
authorities not providing security guarantees."
FIFA added that the suspension would be automatically
reinstated on August 15 "should the FFB not be able to
definitively settle the issues at stake with the authorities."
The Belize government has said it refused to recognise the
FFB because it has failed to meet the requirements for
registration with the National Sports Council.
The Belize-Montserrat meeting is one of five two-leg
preliminary round ties featuring the lowest ranked teams in the
CONCACAF region.
Montserrat also had to play their home game on neutral
territory in Trinidad & Tobago as the island does not have a
suitable venue.