EURO 2008 INFO

FIFA Spain threatened with expulsion from Euro after it has transpired that the Government had an impact on the decisions of some sports federations

Less than four months of the start of the Euro, FIFA has threatened Spain with more severe sanction: Their expulsion from the competition.

Given the strict position that the body of world football has assumed when governments interfere with national federations, Spain could face a suspension that could prevent play the continental competition this year.

"This is not a hollow threat under any circumstances," said William Gaillard, spokesman for UEFA, in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "I think FIFA could punish Spain if there is no agreement."

The problem arose when the socialist government of Spain called for all sports federations that do not compete this year in the Beijing Olympic Games elections before that competition, which starts in August.

However, the Spanish football federation will conclude his administration four years until November.

"It is not the prerogative of a government to tell a federation when you make the elections," said Gaillard.

Spain, which is fourth in the ladder of FIFA, is not the only country facing this type of problem, but it is the only thing that could be suspended its participation in the Euro, which will be held in June in Austria and Switzerland.

The Spanish Minister for Sport, Jaime Lissavetzky, felt that the rules of FIFA elections are 100% compatible with Spanish law and its election processes.

He added that it comply with national laws in the event that the Spanish federation did not conduct elections by March 31, as the government insists.

However, he said that does not want a confrontation with FIFA.

Earlier this month, FIFA warned that Albania could be suspended, lifted a punishment against Kuwait, which forced the government of Turkey to accept the statutes independent of football and oversaw the election of directors football in Iran, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Samoa American and Burkina Faso.

FIFA also noted that working with the heads of soccer for conducting elections in the Central African Republic, Indonesia and Palestine, and resolved a case of government interference in Peru. There are other cases pending in Cyprus, Dominica and Togo.

The influence of FIFA on these governments is based on its power to prohibit a selected part in any international competition.

"It's a very powerful weapon, and that governments give way," explained Gaillard.

In the case of Spain, FIFA President Joseph Blatter has threatened to organize an emergency meeting of the executive committee to discuss the problem. The next regular meeting is scheduled for March 14.

"FIFA has the greatest respect for national laws, but if one is a member of an organization and access to adhere to its regulation, it should do so", the agency reported in an email.