A FIFA message reads: “The key decisions taken by the FIFA Council at meeting No. 10 included: Decision to lift the suspension of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) with immediate effect, after the High Court of Sierra Leone acquitted the SLFA president and general secretary of all charges on 27 May, which ensured that the recognised leadership has full control of the member association again.”
It can be recalled that on 5th October 2018, FIFA announced that it has suspended Sierra Leone’s Football Association from taking part in and benefitting from its activities.
This decision came after weeks of deadlock between the government of Sierra Leone and FIFA, regarding the government’s sacking of the country’s football chief – Isha Johansen, amid corruption allegation.
This is the statement published today by FIFA:
“The Bureau of the FIFA Council decided today to suspend the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) with immediate effect due to government interference.
This decision comes after a recent letter from FIFA to the Minister of Sports of Sierra Leone to express grave concern about the removal of the SLFA President and the SLFA General Secretary and to request that both be allowed to access the SLFA premises without further delay to ensure that the operations of the SLFA, including FIFA-funded projects, are not jeopardised.
The suspension will be lifted once the SLFA and its recognised leadership (led by SLFA President, Ms Isha Johansen, and SLFA General Secretary, Mr Christopher Kamara) have confirmed to FIFA that the SLFA administration, premises, accounts and communication channels are under their control once again”.
It can further be recalled that following the suspension, the SLFA lost all its membership rights as defined in Art. 13 of the FIFA Statutes. The SLFA’s national and affiliated club teams were no longer entitled to take part in international competitions until the suspension is lifted.
This was also meant to say neither the SLFA nor any of its members or officials were to benefit from any development programmes, courses or training from FIFA or CAF. Moreover, and in accordance with Art. 16 Par. 3 of the FIFA Statutes, other member associations may not entertain sporting contact with the SLFA during its suspension.
