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Home  » Sports » Nigeria ban fully lifted, Bosnia under threat

Nigeria ban fully lifted, Bosnia under threat

October 29, 2010 23:50 IST
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Nigeria's ban from international soccer has been fully lifted after court actions against members of the federation were dropped, soccer's governing body FIFA said on Friday.

However, Bosnia could face suspension in April if the country's FA does not change its statutes.

Nigeria was banned at the start of the month over political interference in the sport but the suspension was provisionally lifted four days later after FIFA was told that court cases against the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) would be dropped.

"The executive committee decided to lift the suspension on the NFF after receiving confirmation that the court actions against elected members of the NFF had ceased and that they could now work without hindrance," said FIFA in a statement.

The suspension was the latest chapter in the chaotic administration of Nigerian soccer, which sees national team coaches hired and fired with astonishing regularity and continual in-fighting among directors and politicians.

FIFA had previously threatened to suspend Nigeria after the World Cup because President Goodluck Jonathan, angry at their first-round exit, ordered the team's withdrawal from international soccer for the next two years.

Jonathan reversed his decision after the federation agreed to disband the team and amid appeals from Nigerians including former leaders.

Bosnia's federation was given until March 31 to bring its statutes into line with FIFA's "or face automatic suspension and the establishment of an interim committee."

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Source: REUTERS
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