FIFA CONSIDER CHILE WORLD CUP BAN

Chile could lose their place at the 2010 World Cup because of a domestic row which has incurred the wrath of Fifa.

Chilean club Rangers are trying to annul their relegation after being docked 3 points for fielding one too many foreign players in a league game. They have taken their case to the Chilean courts of justice, a move which has angered world football’s governing body which does not recognize civil or government intervention within the game.

Fifa has written to the Chilean Football Association, the ANFP, urging it to persuade Rangers to drop the case and has threatened to impose sanctions if the club does not withdraw the action. One option open to Fifa, who’s executive committee meets next week, is to ban Chile from next summer’s World Cup.

A letter from Fifa sent to ANFP president Harold Mayne-Nicholls, read:

We beseech your association to call on your affiliated club… to withdraw the case it took to the Chilean courts of justice within the next 72 hours or… announce the pertinent sanctions against your affiliated club.

If your association does not adopt the necessary measures as we have indicated, the case will be put to Fifa’s executive committee in its session of December 3, 2009 in Cape Town… so it considers imposing a suspension against (the ANFP).