Many candidates to host FIFA Congress

Zurich – Switzerland: FIFA welcomes the high level of interest in hosting the FIFA Congresses in 2016 and 2017. The 209 member associations were invited to submit a declaration of interest by the end of June 2013 and the procedure has been very successful, with a long list of candidates to host the most important gathering of international football’s governing body.

For the Congress 2016, the following associations have expressed interest: Costa Rica, Canada,Greece, Jamaica, Jordan, Korea Republic, Malaysia, Mexico, Panama, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey,United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.

For the Congress 2017, Costa Rica, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Malaysia, Palestine, South Africa,Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates have expressed interest.

The candidates will now have to present a formal bid, with the final decision on the hosts currently scheduled to take place at the FIFA Executive Committee meeting in December 2013.

In 2014, the year of the FIFA World Cup™, the Congress will take place in Sao Paulo, Brazil just before the opening match of the competition, while in 2015, the year of the FIFA presidential election, the Congress will, as in previous election years, be held in Zurich, Switzerland.

Cameroonian Football Association suspension lifted

FIFA passed a decision today, 22 July 2013, to lift the suspension of the Cameroonian Football Association (FECAFOOT) given that the conditions previously set have been met.

As requested by the FIFA Emergency Committee, the normalisation committee that was appointed on 20 July 2013 was able to take up its duties this Monday, 22 July 2013, at the FECAFOOT headquarters, with FIFA and CAF observers present.

The lifting of the suspension means that FECAFOOT’s clubs, officials and other representatives can immediately resume their activities, which had been interrupted. The same applies for the resumption of the courses and various programmes provided by FIFA, CAF and other member associations.

FIFA and CAF will continue to closely monitor the situation, particularly in relation to the revision of the FECAFOOT statutes.

Tahitian player provisionally suspended for prohibited substance

Zurich – Switzerland, July 31, 2013: The chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has provisionally suspended a Tahitian international footballer for an initial period of 30 days and opened disciplinary proceedings, following an adverse analytical finding in relation to a doping control conducted after the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 match played in Recife on 23 June 2013.

Following the provision of the “A” sample result, the player waived his right to request the analysis of the “B” sample.

The decision by the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee was duly notified to the Tahitian Football Association on 31 July. The player has until 8 August to inform FIFA whether he wishes to request a hearing. Irrespective of whether or not the player requests a hearing, the player and/or the Tahitian Football Association have until 15 August to submit a statement to FIFA, together with all related and supporting documentary evidence.

The decision to provisionally suspend the player was taken in accordance with articles 38ff of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations. By testing positive for a prohibited substance, the player has contravened article 63 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

In line with article 74 paragraph 2 of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations, only after it has been determined in a hearing that an anti-doping violation has occurred may FIFA publicly report the anti-doping rule violated, the name of the player who committed the violation, the prohibited substance and the consequences imposed. —- FIFA/Photo © Getty Images