FIFA has suspended two countries from all its activities, including international competitions until all the serious issues in the federations are resolved.

The world governing body for football announced the suspensions on Thursday for Congo (CAF) and Pakistan (AFC).

Congo has been handed the indefinite suspension due to third-party interference which goes against FIFA statutes. It is the same offence Kenya was also suspended for in 2021 after the then Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed disbanded the Football Kenya Federation led by Nick Mwendwa.

"FECOFOOT has been suspended with immediate effect due to a particularly serious situation of undue interference by third parties in the affairs of the organisation, which constitutes a clear violation of FECOFOOT’s obligations in accordance with the FIFA Statutes," read the press release.

Pakistan meanwhile has been barred from FIFA activities over its failure to provide a revised constitution that will ensure democratic elections.

"The PFF has been suspended with immediate effect due to its failure to adopt a revision of the PFF Constitution that would ensure truly fair and democratic elections and thereby fulfil its obligations as mandated by FIFA as part of the ongoing normalisation process of PFF."

Congo has been given concise instructions which include returning full control of the FECOFOOT headquarters to FECOFOOT and the third parties desisting from any efforts to change the signatories of the FECOFOOT bank accounts among other conditions.

Pakistan's suspension will be lifted once the federation's congress approves the version of the PFF Constitution presented by FIFA and the AFC.

The two countries have now been barred from any FIFA-related activities which include the World Cup, Asia Cup or the Africa Cup of Nations and its qualifiers.

The two will join Russia, who remain suspended since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, in missing out on next year's World Cup.

Congo have already fallen behind in the World Cup qualification campaign where they have 0 points in Group E. Their next games were supposed to be against Tanzania and Zambia next month but with the suspension in place, it is highly unlikely the games will proceed.

They didn't qualify for AFCON 2025 and thus won't affect the group-stage draw that was done last month.

Pakistan are winless in their last six games of qualification for the World Cup and other chances were already bleak even before the suspension. Pakistan were also banned in 2017 and 2021.

also reported on the AFCON 2025 group stage draw. Hosts Morocco will face Comoros in the opening game with other games against Zambia and Mali.

The defending champions Ivory Coast will have an early date against five-time champions Cameroon in Group F.

Source: TUKO.co.ke