Toni Kroos can see the merits of a European Super League despite his criticism of potential additions to an already hectic schedule.

The idea of Europe's elite clubs forming their own division has long been mooted but came to the fore again after outgoing Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu claimed the Blaugrana had agreed to join such a league.

Kroos' Real Madrid would surely be involved, too, but the midfielder this week took aim at FIFA and UEFA due to the number of games top players are being asked to play - particularly during the coronavirus pandemic.

Seemingly referring to UEFA's Nations League and a possible super league, he said: "With the invention of all these new things, we seem to be just the puppets of FIFA and UEFA."

Further discussing the purported move with Marca, though, the Germany international highlighted some benefits.

"What I wanted to say is that, without a doubt, there are positive things about it," Kroos told the Spanish newspaper.

"We are going to see many matches of a very high level that we have only seen in the semi-finals of the Champions League. And we all like those games.

"It's going to make football very interesting for the fans of the teams and for those who don't have a specific [team]. We all like to watch football at the highest level."

However, he added: "You also have to take care of small teams. They are all very competitive. The super league is something else. I worry more about other things."

Greg Clarke has quit his role as FIFA vice-president two days on from resigning as chairman of England's Football Association (FA) for the use of a derogatory term in a meeting with a parliamentary committee.

Clarke had attended a forum with the United Kingdom's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee alongside Premier League chief Richard Masters and EFL boss Rick Parry.

The trio were called to discuss numerous matters in English football, including Project Big Picture and the sport's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

But when asked about abuse athletes receive on social media, Clarke referred to "high-profile coloured footballers" in his response.

He swiftly issued an apology for his remarks, which were widely condemned, before the FA announced later in the day that Clarke had resigned.

The consequences have not stopped there, with UEFA confirming he has also stepped down as a representative on the FIFA Council, which Clarke had been serving as one of eight vice-presidents.

A UEFA statement read: "Following a telephone call this morning between the UEFA president [Aleksander Ceferin] and Greg Clarke, they agreed with Greg Clarke's proposal that he should step down with immediate effect from his position as a UEFA representative on the FIFA Council."

Clarke had been elected to the role in February 2019 and was one of three UEFA representatives working as a vice-president to Gianni Infantino, alongside Ceferin and Hungary's Sandro Csanyi.

Toni Kroos has accused FIFA and UEFA of treating footballers like "puppets" by creating new tournaments at club and international level.

Kroos will this week represent Germany in the Nations League, a competition formed two years ago with the aim of replacing friendly matches.

The Club World Cup has also recently been expanded and there is talk of a new European Super League being formed in the coming years.

However, Real Madrid midfielder Kroos is completely against the idea of cramming more fixtures into an already packed schedule.

"With the invention of all these new things we seem to be just the puppets of FIFA and UEFA," he said.

"These competitions are created to suck everything out of every single player physically and to suck out as much money as possible.

"When certain things work well it is a good idea to leave them that way."

Speaking on his Einfach mal Luppen podcast, which he hosts together with brother Felix, Kroos also took aim at fellow professionals who choreograph their goal celebrations.

Referencing celebrations by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has previously sported a Spiderman mask, and Antoine Griezmann, who simulates dance moves from video game Fortnite, Kroos said: "I find it very silly.

"Even worse is if there are any objects hidden in their socks. Aubameyang once celebrated and took out a mask. That's where it ends with me.

"I don't think that's a good role model, either. What nonsense."

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is glad to have "completely cleared my name" after being acquitted by a Swiss court of inciting aggravated criminal mismanagement.

Al-Khelaifi had been charged in a case relating to beIN Media Group's allocation of television rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups.

The case also involved ex-FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke, who was found guilty of forging documents relating to separate media rights and given a 120-day suspended prison sentence.

A statement from PSG chief Al-Khelaifi, who is also part of UEFA's executive committee, read: "Today's verdict is a total vindication.

"After a relentless four-year campaign against me that ignored the basic facts and the law at every turn, I have finally, fully and completely cleared my name.

"It restores my faith in the rule of law and in due process, after four years of baseless allegations, fictitious charges and constant smears of my reputation - all of which have been proven to be completely and wholly unsubstantiated."

He added: "I can now devote all my energy to my various roles, which are all focused on building a positive future for world sport - at a time when the industry needs strong leadership the most."

Attorneys representing the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association today filed a termination order before the Court of Arbitration for Sport effectively ending their appeal of the suspension imposed on the association by FIFA last month.

The termination order is in keeping with the resolutions arrived at on Sunday by the delegates of the association who voted en masse to end their seven-month dispute with the world governing body over a March 18 decision to appoint a normalization committee to manage the affairs of the debt-ridden association until the next Annual General Meeting scheduled for some time within the next three years.

The delegates also voted to end all legal action against FIFA, which resulted in the termination order being filed today.

The TTFA is hoping their actions along with others will see FIFA lifting their suspension before December 18. This will allow Trinidad and Tobago to participate in the draw for the 2020 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The TTFA was represented by Dr Emir Crowne, Mr Matthew Gayle, Ms Crystal Paul and Mr Jason Jones.

Barcelona have accepted an invitation to join a proposed new European Super League, according to outgoing president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Bartomeu made the announcement on Tuesday in a speech confirming he and Barca's board of directors are resigning.

"We accept entry into a European Super League of football clubs," he said. "This acceptance will have to be ratified by the next assembly. We have also approved the format of the new Club World Cup.

"The European Super League will make it so the club can remain being one of the members."

A report from Sky Sports last week claimed Liverpool and Manchester United were leading talks around the prospect of a new FIFA-backed tournament featuring the world's biggest clubs.

It was claimed more than a dozen teams from England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain were in negotiations to become founder members of a possible European Premier League backed by $6billion (£4.6billion) of funding.

Bartomeu's comments made it clear that Barca are one such club to have been approached to join the proposed competition, which could start as early as 2022 and comprise home and away fixtures between 18 teams.

Any final decision would have to be ratified by a vote held by the next Barca president and board of directors.

In his speech, Bartomeu did not state whether Barca's involvement in any new such competition would lead to them withdrawing from LaLiga or the Champions League.

The new Club World Cup was scheduled to begin next year, in place of the traditional pre-World Cup tournament, the Confederations Cup, with FIFA expanding the tournament to 24 teams and China selected as host.

The coronavirus pandemic means the event is likely to be pushed back until at least 2022, however.

Bartomeu's admission that Barca have accepted the plans for the new tournament is at odds with the view of the European Club Association (ECA), which last year produced a letter insisting "no ECA clubs would take part".

Writing on Twitter on Tuesday after Bartomeu's resignation speech, LaLiga president Javier Tebas said: "Unlucky Bartomeu, announcing on the final day participation in a phantom competition that would be the ruin of Barcelona, and ratifies his ignorance in the football industry.

"A sad end for a president who had success and, in the end, errors."

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has tested positive for coronavirus.

The 50-year-old is experiencing mild symptoms and has begun self-isolating, world football's governing body confirmed on Tuesday.

"FIFA president Gianni Infantino has received confirmation today that he has tested positive for coronavirus," a statement said.

"The FIFA president, who has reported mild symptoms, has immediately placed himself in self-isolation and will remain in quarantine at least for 10 days.

"All people who came into contact with the FIFA president during the last few days have been informed accordingly and they are being requested to take the necessary steps.

"FIFA sincerely wishes president Infantino a speedy recovery."

Infantino is in his second term as FIFA president, having won re-election in June last year.

The former UEFA general secretary first took office in February 2016.

Infantino has spoken recently of his determination to make sure the 2022 World Cup in Qatar takes place with fans attending, despite the coronavirus pandemic forcing domestic competitions to continue to restrict the number of supporters going to stadiums or banning them entirely.

"I cannot imagine the Qatar 2022 World Cup without fans because playing a competition the size of the World Cup without spectators is almost no point in having, causing us big issues, and there is no doubt that the next World Cup will definitely be held in Qatar," he said.

"We have sufficient time in order to contain the coronavirus pandemic, and the global community will have done this by winter 2022.

"At the present time the crisis threatens football and for the first time since World War II, football competitions around the world have been stopped. The situation has been very difficult, especially for those countries that depend on the income of fans attending."

Richard Ferguson, Chairman of Sunday’s Extraordinary General Meeting of the delegates of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association has written to Robert Hadad of the FIFA-appointed Normalization Committee stating that they will comply with its obligation as a member of FIFA and that they will cease all legal action against the sport’s governing body.

The move effectively brings to an end the seven-month long dispute between the association and FIFA, who in March 2020, dissolved the TTFA’s administration four months after it was duly elected in November 2019.

FIFA cited weak financial controls and systems that plagued the heavily indebted association. However, the matter led to a month's long dispute that went before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the Trinidad and Tobago High Court of Justice and eventually before the Trinidad and Tobago Appeals Court, who ruled in favour of FIFA late last week.

Today’s letter follows on the heels of resolutions that were overwhelmingly accepted during Sunday’s EGM and from which former TTFA President William Wallace and members of his executive withdrew.

It states that the TTFA has decided to “comply with its obligation as a member of FIFA, recognizing the legitimacy of the FIFA- appointed Normalization Committee” and to bring its own statutes in line with the FIFA statutes.

They have also resolved to fully cooperate with the Normalization Committee in the fulfillment of its mandate as stated in FIFA's letter of March 17th, 2020 and critically, that all court matters existing between the TTFA and FIFA shall be immediately brought to a stop."

Ferguson also stated that the “TTFA must advise that its members have agreed to abide with the conditions of the Normalisation Committee and will co-operate fully to ensure that the mandate of the Committee is realized.”

He also apologized to Hadad and members of the Normalization Committee, FIFA, CONCACAF and CFU “for any embarrassment and inconvenience caused by TTFA representatives over the last year.”

“I also hope that a strong positive relationship can be re-established as we move forward for the betterment of football in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Delegates of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) voted by an overwhelming majority this morning to inform the Robert Hadad-led Normalization Committee to advise FIFA that they will accept the committee managing the affairs of the association until they can have an Annual General Meeting in the next two to three years.

They also voted to cease all legal actions against FIFA and to reject William Wallace and his executive that had been in dispute with football’s world’s governing body since March and which has led to Trinidad being suspended from international football.

Thirty-three delegates voted in favour of the actions to be taken while two abstained during the virtual extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of the fraternity’s 47-member delegation.

FIFA appointed a normalization committee in March after dissolving the William-Wallace-led TTFA's administration that was duly elected in November 2019. 

On Saturday, Wallace and his ousted executive announced their withdrawal from today's EGM after declaring that said EGM was properly constituted.

“Over the last seven months since March, we were fortunate to be allowed rare candid views of the TTFA as it is really seen from several other vantage points—including the international and the regional and, latterly, the judicial and the political,” Wallace said in a statement.

“That combination of different points of view, especially the political, has made it clear to my vice-presidents and me that our views and the views of some fraction of the membership remain at variance at this time.

“We are acutely aware that tomorrow is promised to no one of us and that it is the membership’s right to decide on the tomorrow they desire for the TTFA. We shall not stand in your way.”

The embattled executive of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has opted against attending a general meeting called for Sunday, in light of the recent legal defeat in court.

On Thursday, the island’s Court of Appeal in Trinidad and Tobago set aside an earlier ruling by High Court Judge Carol Gobin, which found that FIFA’s removal of the duly elected executive was “illegal null and void and of no effect”.  The executive has, however, not resigned as their status following the ruling remains somewhat unclear. If the power of the normalisation committee still stands, then a resignation would not be necessary.

The world football governing body opted to remove the executive earlier this year, after just four months on the job.  The Wallace-led executive, however, contested the decision, first at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), before withdrawing the case and taking it to the Trinidad and Tobago High court.  The decision saw the association run afoul of FIFA statues and it was suspended last month.

In wake of the ruling, the TTFA body is expected to begin the process of fulfilling the requirements set out by FIFA to regain re-admittance to international football.  In a recently released letter, Wallace insists he will not stand in the way of the rest of the body.

 “Over the last seven months since March, we were fortunate to be allowed rare candid views of the TTFA as it is really seen from several other vantage points—including the international and the regional and, latterly, the judicial and the political,” the letter read.

“That combination of different points of view, especially the political, has made it clear to my vice-presidents, Clynt Taylor and Joseph Sam Phillip, and me that our views and the views of some fraction of the membership remain at variance at this time. We are acutely aware that tomorrow is promised to no one of us and that it is the membership’s right to decide on the tomorrow they desire for the TTFA.  We shall not stand in your way,” he added.

Wallace reiterated the fact that he remained surprised that the executive had not received broader support for their actions.

 “I am still quite unable to comprehend how anybody can think that what Fifa did in March 2020 is acceptable. Maybe it was desirable that those who elected us should be consulted.

Frankly, however, it never occurred to us that anyone would view Fifa’s decision to send in a normalisation committee after a mere four months of our tenure in any way different from the way we viewed it. In addition, the action directly affected the executive and to some extent brought our names into disrepute,” it continued.

“We remain convinced that the right to make our case, to let our voices be heard, is a basic human right. It is a right which, in our view, FIFA denied us when they abrogated their responsibility at the Court of Arbitration. We are well aware of what that action led to.”

Wallace added, however, that the executive respected the decision of the appeals court.  Last week technical committee chairman Keith Look Loy announced his retirement from football administration.

A Court of Appeal in Trinidad and Tobago today set aside a ruling by High Court Judge Carol Gobin that FIFA’s removal of the duly elected executive was “illegal null and void and of no effect”. According to reports out of the twin-island republic, United TTFA that is led by William Wallace, was also ordered to pay legal costs.

FIFA had dissolved the executive of the TTFA in March and installed a normalization committee to oversee the affairs of the association. The ousted executive then took the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but eventually withdrew the case citing institutional bias.

They put the matter before the TT High Court of Justice where High Court Justice Carol Gobin ruled twice in favour of the TTFA – on August 13 and October 13 – in the first instance to say that the TTFA were entitled to justice from the local courts and then to declare FIFA’s actions illegal and null and void.

However, on Friday, the Court of Appeal, ruled in favour of the football’s governing body.

“The filing of these proceedings was a breach of Article 67 of the TTFA’s Constitution of which the TTFA is bound,” Chief Justice Ivor Archie ruled, according to 868Wired. “We are of the view that section 67 is unambiguous… The filings of these proceedings was therefore ultra vires, null and void and of no effect and will be struck out.

‘In accordance with the relevant provisions of the FIFA Statutes, any appeal against a final and binding decision passed by FIFA, CONCACAF or the leagues shall be heard by the CAS, unless another arbitration tribunal has jurisdiction in accordance with Article 69.

Prior to Friday's decision, William Wallace had said that if the ruling went against him, he would end all legal challenges against FIFA.

"If we lose this matter, that's it for me. There is no more appealing,” Wallace said in an interview on WESN Content Capital TV. “I [would] say 'Thank you very much' and I walk away. I have no intention of going beyond our court.”

The TTFA was represented by Dr Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle, Jason Jones and Crystal Paul. Christopher Hamel-Smith SC, Jonathan Walker and Cherie Gopie represented FIFA.

Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) board member and technical committee chairman Keith Look Loy has announced his retirement from football administration.

Look Loy, a former T&T national youth player has amassed a long and distinguished career in football administration, serving in various capacities.  In the past several months, however, he has been at the centre of the battle as part of a William Wallace-led association that was replaced with a normalisation committee by FIFA.  

The association, officially registered as the United TTFA, recently scored a victory as the Trinidad and Tobago High Court ruled the normalisation committee implemented by FIFA was illegal.  The country was, however, suspended for violating the global football body’s statues.  It seems the contentious battle has taken its toll.

“Now that the central issue of the legality of Fifa’s actions has been adjudicated, it is time for TTFA’s membership to decide the immediate political direction of the Association,” Look Loy said in a release post in full on Wired868.

“For my part, I have run my race—not only in this matter but in football as a whole. In the aftermath of the seven-month battle between United TTFA and Fifa, with conflicting emotions. I resign the positions of TTSL president, TTFA Board member, and TTFA technical committee chairman. These resignations are effective immediately,” he added.

Though supported in some quarters, the action by the TTFA against FIFA and the subsequent suspension was not seen in a favourable light by everyone, including many fans.  President of T&T Keith Rowley called the executive’s victory in court a pyrrhic one and the majority of the TTFA had voted to withdraw the case before the court following an emergency meeting.  Another meeting will be held next week to decide the fate of the association.

 “I was born in 1953 under British colonial rule, which our people historically resisted. I am old enough to remember the raising of ‘the red, white and black’ at the magical midnight on 31 August 1962, under the watchful eye of Dr. Eric Williams,” he added.

“Football has been my lifelong love and labour. I participated in and represented Trinidad and Tobago football, on and off the field, for more than 50 years. Never did I think the day would come when a foreign entity would attempt to seize control of our football. To see many fellow citizens hysterically rationalise, aid, and abet this is unbearable.”

In light of the devastating impact the recent Trinidad and Tobago High Court ruling could have on the country’s national program, it’s hard to not agree with Prime Minister Keith Rowley's assessment of the victory being a pyrrhic one.

The term itself comes from the example of Pyrrhus of Epirus, whose triumph against the Romans in the Battle of Asculum destroyed much of his forces, but while it was a famous tactical win, it eventually forced the end of his campaign.  If that metaphorical allusion is too complex, one could consider a tree with 211 branches; William Wallace and his executive have climbed to the edge of one of the highest ones, cut it off and celebrated while falling to the floor.

The ruling was declared as a victory of significant proportions for global football, but it really strains credulity to see how.  Last month, the majority of the TTFA members had voted to withdraw the case.  Rowley’s post might not signal the official position of the government, FIFA’s usual opposition in such matters, but it clearly seems that they do not support the action either.  Neither, does it seem, did a vast majority of fans of the sport across the country.  Perhaps the victory, framed as many things these often are these days, in disingenuous displays of fervent nationality, was only for a few disgruntled executives and their egos.

Believe it or not, the rest of global football has continued on as usual, in many cases oblivious to the ruling of the court or even suspension of the TTFA.  Qualifiers have continue as planned, and those of us who compete in the region will have the Gold Cup and World Cup qualifiers to look forward to in short order. 

There is a simple reason for the overall lack of interest.  While the case has been framed by many of those involved as a once in a lifetime battle of David vs Goliath, the real fact of the matter is surprise, surprise Trinidad and Tobago is not the only country to take FIFA to court, or even to secure a positive court ruling.  Perhaps many sold themselves the same stories at the start of the chapter, but the tale has always ended in much the same manner in a variety of disputes with FIFA.  If there was a case that was going to turn out differently, forgive the incredulity for not believing it would be an association that has racked up debts of almost $US10m and dogged by years of scandals and mismanagement, that breaks that trend.

Now don’t get me wrong, FIFA as an institution has gotten a lot wrong, on more than one occasion it has proven to be riddled with corruption and can often come off high handed and dictatorial.  However, for many FIFA members, all sovereign states, the deal is a Faustian bargain.  Like it or not, a lot of the organisation’s massive success has to do with its ability to set aside and solve petty grievances and rivalries that often consume international politics and ensure that, for the most part, whatever the stakes there is a game played on the pitch.  A part of that success then means that for many associations FIFA is able to successfully fund a huge part of the development of the game locally.

For many in the twin-island republic, it is the latter that would cause significant trepidation regarding the ruling.  In the case of the already cash strapped United TTFA, it surely comes down to things like funding needed to secure the livelihood of thousands of workers that serve the sport across the island.  It could mean blighting potentially bright youth prospects, who will not only lack competitions to showcase their talent, but funding to help develop it.  Depending on how long this impasse lasts an inactive national team could not only miss the upcoming World Cup qualifier, but fall behind in preparations for 2026, which will be held in the CONCACAF region and surely be a massive blow for fans if T&T cannot secure one of four extra places.  All in all, steep prices most are not willing to pay for a declaration of sovereignty. 

In recent interview with my colleges on the SportsMax Zone, which got quite heated at times, well-respected leading sports attorney Dr. Emir Crowne, who was one of the representatives for the TTFA, struggled to put what was achieved by the body for the overall good of the country’s football in any meaningful context.  Understandably, it was a tough job, I suspect outside of mere theoretical platitudes for those in charge, there is no real concrete benefit for the sport be found.  

As part of her ruling, the High Court judge found the section Article 8(2) of the FIFA Statutes, which speaks to the establishment of normalisation committees, was incongruous with the country’s municipal laws and was hence invalid.  A win, perhaps, but what is the endgame.  In the end, in all likelihood, the TTFA will have to amend the statues of its own association to completely enable its parent association to govern as set out in the statues.  A move previously taken by all other David’s in this battle, no matter how long it takes.

The Trinidad and Tobago High Court of Justice has ruled that FIFA’s removal of the executive of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) is illegal, null and void and of no effect. The High Court also ruled that the decision was made in bad faith and was for an improper and illegal motive.

In the decision that High Court Justice Carol Gobin handed the decision down on Tuesday night, the judge also ruled that the appointment of a normalization committee to interfere in the affairs of the TTFA is null and void and of no effect and that FIFA statute 8(2) is inconsistent with the provisions of the TTFA Act no. 17 of 1982.

The decision is a blow to the football world’s governing body, who has suspended the TTFA indefinitely, a move that has put Trinidad and Tobago’s chances of participating in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in jeopardy.

In March, FIFA effectively dissolved the executive of the TTFA that was elected to office in November 2019 and appointed a normalization committee to oversee the affairs of the association. Since then, the ousted executive led by William Wallace has been at loggerheads with FIFA as the two parties strive for a mutually agreeable outcome.

Sportsmax.tv will have more on this story on Wednesday.

Former Trinidad and Tobago international Kelvin Jack has called for an end to the ‘toxicity’ currently surrounding the nation’s football, beginning with a decision to withdraw the case against FIFA and a return to the international football fold.

The twin-island republic was suspended from international football last month, after disputing FIFA’s right to dissolve the country’s football federation and implement a normalisation committee.  Deposed Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) President William Wallace and his executive took the issue to the country’s High Court, which is expressly forbidden by FIFA’s statues.

In a strange twist of events, the United TTFA executive had agreed to withdraw the case as per the wishes of the wider membership but missed filing the application by the FIFA deadline.  The decision was subsequently taken to revive the case before the court.

While admitting that he felt a huge amount of sympathy for the deposed board, Jack insisted that the current actions taken by the United TTFA are detrimental to the sport.

“When Fifa appointed the normalisation committee, my first reaction was one of genuine surprise. I made that known to the president William Wallace and to [United TTFA member and technical committee chairman] Keith Look Loy.  I was empathetic towards the situation they were put in. I was particularly irked because I felt they only just assumed office but were then being forced out,” Jack said in a release first published in its entirety on Wired868.

The former goalkeeper, who was appointed men’s National Senior Team goalkeeping coach by the United TTFA, made it clear, however, that he did not see the need for the current course of action to continue.

“…this impasse that has crippled football. In my opinion, the ongoing court action is nonsensical and has a debilitating effect on Trinidad and Tobago football. The court action should be discontinued immediately,” he added.

Jack also took issue with some of the arguments he claims are used to support the continuance of the TTFA’s legal action.

“I have analysed the various arguments for the continued progression of this court action. From the supposed invasion of Trinidad and Tobago sovereignty to no football is being played right now because of the global pandemic, to the view by some that Trinidad and Tobago wouldn’t qualify for the 2022 World Cup anyway,” he said.

“These reasons are weak and incredibly disrespectful to the players, fans, potential sponsors, coaches, and referees.”

The player, who pointed out that he himself used the failed 2002 qualification bid to prepare for the success of 2006, admitted that he could not fathom a workable long-term plan being put forward by the TTFA, under the current circumstances.

“Maybe there is a plan? How will development programs be funded? How will salaries be paid? How will the players gain valuable international experience? How will our women’s team close the gap on our international rivals? How will our aspiring international referees develop?

Committed die-hard fans will be starved of watching their beloved national teams play in tournaments,” Jack went on.

“There are 211 countries that adhere to Fifa statutes; we are one. If we are truly honest we must realise we cannot, on one hand, utilise all the provisions of Fifa—for example, receive funding and playing in international tournaments—but then frown when one of the very statutes which we agreed to, the implementation of a normalisation committee, is used by Fifa.

If we detest the role of a normalisation committee in the Fifa statutes so vociferously, why did we join Fifa in the first place? Shouldn’t we have objected to the statutes all those years ago, or at the very least inform Fifa that we do not agree with the role of a normalisation committee—as we believe our sovereignty as an independent country supersedes their statutes?”