(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-03-20 10:17

BERNE, Switzerland - FIFA has announced the suspension of Madagascar's football association in the latest row over alleged political interference in the running of the sport.

World soccer's governing body said on Wednesday it would immediately enforce the suspension which its executive committee had threatened to impose last Friday.

The executive committee had given the Malagasy government three days to revoke a sports ministry decree aimed at dissolving the Malagasy Football Association (FMF) but on Wednesday FIFA said its demands had not been met.

"FIFA has today been informed of the decision taken by the Supreme Court of Madagascar to reject an appeal from the (FMF) to defer (the) ministerial order," a statement said.

"As a result, the suspension of the FMF and the measures stipulated in Article 14.3 of the FIFA Statutes have come into effect today."

FIFA said that in line with its statutes it would also not recognise a "special delegation" set up by the Malagasy sports minister to oversee the running of the association.

FIFA last week described political interference in the running of its member associations as one of nine crucial "areas of concern".

On Friday the executive committee suspended the Albanian football association due to what it called "heavy political interference".

The executive committee said it was monitoring situations in five other countries, including Euro 2008 participants Spain and Turkey.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has already warned Spain that it risks suspension from Euro 2008 if the country's government continues to insist on early elections within the Spanish FA.