FIFA restores ties with Tunisian Federation

2007-01-22

FIFA has accepted amendments to Tunisia’s football laws. A special group will be formed to settle differences with the Tunisian Football Federation.

[Getty Images] An FTF delegation flew to Zurich last week for talks with FIFA.

FIFA has agreed to lift restrictions on the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) following talks in Zurich last week. Football's world governing body recently banned government-appointed federation Chairman Ali Labiedh from leading the country's soccer and only maintained contact with Vice-President Kamal Be Amor, an elected official. The move came as a reaction to the country's football laws which allow the minister of sport to appoint some senior officials without an election.

An FTF delegation flew to Zurich last week for talks with FIFA. It was agreed to make changes to the rules, which would be adopted at an upcoming general meeting of the federation. The first new rule would allow the federation board to elect the president instead of the football clubs. FIFA has agreed to lift the restrictions on the FTF, and a special group has been appointed to look for a comprehensive solution. It will seek ways to reconcile the differences between Tunisian law and FIFA's regulations. Tunisian lawmakers passed a new law last November again allowing the minister to appoint members of the board but also giving him discretion over when to apply these powers.

In other news from the area, Sunday's (January 21st) match between top Moroccan teams Raja Casablanca and FAR Rabat was postponed because of security concerns. Raja's Mohammed V Stadium, which seats 70,000, has been closed for repairs and the game was initially scheduled for a smaller stadium. Upon review, the Moroccan Federation decided that it would not be in a position to guarantee the safety of the fans in that facility. Officials are particularly cautious because the previous match between the two teams in Rabat was marred by violent scenes as fans fought it out outside the pitch.

North African players continue to make news in Europe. French-Tunisian defender David Jemmali scored an own goal in the French cup tournament against Reims on Saturday. His 87th minute error was not fatal, as Bordeaux was leading by 2-0 and will play with five-time champions Olympic Lyon in the final that would ensure a berth in the UEFA Cup tournament.

Moroccan Abdessalam Benjelloun has become the hero of his team, Hibernian, scoring two goals for its 4-1 victory over Aberdeen for the Scottish Cup. Hibernian will meet Gretna, last year's finalist in the same tournament, in the next round.

English club Portsmouth has offered to buy Moroccan Younes Kaboul from France's Auxerre for 6 million euros. It is not clear, however, whether the Burgundy-based team would agree to part with one of its best defenders.

Monaco's Algerian midfielder Camel Meriem scored both of his team's goals against Toulouse in the French Cup tournament. Monaco will meet Sochaux in the next round.