Guatemala suspended by FIFA

On January 9th, FIFA released a statement announcing the suspension of CONCACAF member Guatemala from FIFA.

The suspension is based on internal affairs involving a body of the government taking control of the FEDFUTBOL headquarters, one that has been financed by the FIFA Financial Assistance Programme. The move by the government also prevented FEDFUTBOL members from gaining access to the national headquarters building.

FIFA, under their rules and regulations, have suspended the Guatemala Football Federation until these internal affairs are returned to normal.

As a result of this Guatemala is now unable to play friendlies or in any other FIFA endorsed competition, club or international. This includes the FIFA World Cup preliminary rounds where they were scheduled to play the winner of Aruba and Surinam. Unless they are unsuspended from FIFA before June of this year Guatemala will not compete in these preliminary rounds.

13 January, 2004

Please send email to davesworldcup@hotmail.com if you have any questions.