FIFA warns players to stay away from an all star player in Kuwait

FIFA has sent a global alert to all members
warning them to keep their players away from
an “All Stars” game in Kuwait which is suspended
by the world body.
Kuwait has invited former international
stars such as Steven Gerrard of England
and Andrea Pirlo of Italy to take part in
the game on December 18 in a bid to
break out of its isolation, according to
media reports.
But FIFA has written to all 209 member
associations warning against registered
players taking part in the contest.
Football’s world body and the
International Olympic Committee have
both suspended Kuwait because of
government interference in the Gulf
state’s sport. Even the United Nations has
become involved in the showdown.
Kuwait’s suspension in October means it
is “no longer entitled to take part in
international matches and/or
competitions until the relevant
suspension is no longer in force,” said
the FIFA notice sent Wednesday, a copy
of which was obtained by AFP.
It added that FIFA registered clubs and
players “may not entertain sporting
contact with the suspended FIFA member
association.”
“Such principle is, of course, also to be
followed at all sporting levels involving
football in the territory of the state of
Kuwait,” FIFA ordered.
The world body has also written to the
Kuwait Football Association warning that
the proposed match between a Kuwait
All Stars XI and a Champions Tour XI
needs FIFA approval.
A FIFA source told AFP that if FIFA-
registered players or agents are involved
in the game or its organisation “Any
players will be referred to the FIFA
disciplinary committee to take the
appropriate sanctions against them.”
Gerrard, who plays for Los Angeles
Galaxy, and Pirlo, who is now with New
York City, are both still FIFA registered.
A Kuwait organising committee
statement, quoted by local media, named
Gerrard, Pirlo and a host of retired stars
including former Italian internationals
Allesandro Nesta and Gianluca
Zambrotta, Jens Lehman of Germany,
England’s Paul Scholes, Jamie Carragher
and David James, Carlos Puyol and
Michel Salgado of Spain, Brazilian
Ronaldinho, Portugal’s Luis Figo and
Deco and Robert Pires of France.
Puyol and Pires have said on social
media that they will be in Kuwait for the
game to inaugurate the 60,000 capacity
Al Jaber Stadium.
The statement also said that Pierluigi
Collina, once a top FIFA referee, would
officiate at the game.
FIFA’s executive decided in September to
suspend Kuwait unless it changed its
sports law by October 15 so that the KFA
and clubs could act “independently.”
It is the third time since 2007 that FIFA
has suspended Kuwait over government
interference.
The suspension has undermined
Kuwait’s bid to reach the 2018 World
Cup finals.
The action against Kuwait is an
embarrassment for Sheikh Ahmad Fahad
al-Ahmad al-Sabah, a FIFA executive
member from the Gulf state.
But Kuwait has also been suspended, for
the third time in five years, by the IOC,
which again discussed the Gulf state’s
sports crisis at an executive meeting in
Lausanne this week.
“We had an exchange of letters which
have not been very helpful, 13
international federations have followed
since our suspension,” said IOC member
Patrick Hickey.
“We are trying to find a peaceful
solution, it’s embarrassing,” he added.
The IOC athletes’ commission members
“are determined to make sure athletes of
the country don’t suffer, it will be very
much on our agenda,” said Hickey.