BANGKOK, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Soccer's world governing body
FIFA has suspended Kuwait from all international matches
because of governmental interference in the national game.
The suspension could rule the Gulf state out of the 2010
World Cup in South Africa, qualifiers for which resume in two
weeks.
Kuwait held elections for key posts in the country's soccer
federation on Oct. 9 but FIFA and the Asian Football
Confederation (AFC) refused to recognise the polls.
FIFA said Kuwait had ignored the two bodies' 'road map'
requiring them to set up an interim board to organise fresh
elections and draft new guidelines to prevent governmental
interference in the game.
Kuwait, who won the Asian Cup in 1980 and reached the World
Cup finals two years later, were due to start their World Cup
qualifying campaign in next month's second round.
The nine-times Gulf Cup champions were given a first-round
bye following Bhutan's withdrawal.
