Sudanese Election Crises Consumes Three Clubs in Continental Race

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

The leadership crisis which erupted last week in the Sudan football governing body got to its peak Friday morning as CAF announced the disqualification of the three Sudanese clubs still in continental tournaments.

Some matches are due this weekend. But following the decision by the Bureau of the FIFA Council to suspend the Sudan Football Association, Sudanese clubs participating in the CAF Interclub competitions have been disqualified.
The decision, Sports Village Square gathered, was contained in a letter dated July 6, 2017 and signed by FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura.
“In accordance with Article 13 of the FIFA Statutes, the SFA loses all its membership rights, and its representative and club teams are no longer entitled to take part in international competitions until the suspension is lifted.
“In line with the decision, the three Sudanese clubs, El Hilal, El Merreikh (Total CAF Champions League) and Al Hilal Obeid (Total CAF Confederation Cup) are disqualified from the two competitions”.

Sports Village Square recalls that El Merreikh threw out Rivers United from the CAF Champions League earlier this year.

The crisis in Sudan erupted last week after an election to the executive committee was stalemated resulting in two groups laying claims to legitimacy. Sports Village Square gathered from a posting by Sudanese sports journalist, Mufti Mohamed, that after the election, the previous helmsmen were swept out and the elected ones got the nod of Sudan’s ministry of justice.

The losing members kicked and thus, existing two groups claiming to be Sudan FA.

The previous executive members who lost petitioned FIFA claiming there was government interference in the election. FIFA in turn refused to recognize the acclaimed winners and called for status quo which allowed the previous team to continue till October for a fresh election.

The winners of last week election reportedly declined and remained in the offices, ostensibly under government backing.