Azerbaijan ban may be lifted if government stop interference

FIFA have revealed that Azerbaijan’s international ban could be lifted if the country’s government stop interfering in the affairs of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA).

That could be good new for Wales, who top their qualifying group after two victories over Azerbaijan so far.

Football's world governing body suspended the AFFA on Tuesday following alleged repeated violations of the FIFA code of conduct, throwing the national team's Euro 2004 qualifying campaign into doubt.

Football in the country has been in turmoil despite an agreement with FIFA last September, after a row between league clubs - supported by the country's government and AFFA president Fuad Musayev. The domestic championship was abandoned as a result and the top clubs have prevented their players from playing with the national team. Tax officials are also probing allegations of fraud at the AFFA.

Musayev is at odds with the AFFA executive committee and is not expected to hold onto the presidency, but the forthcoming elections have been postponed after FIFA's ruling.

FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot said they backed the executive but not government intervention.

"There are a lot of conflicts of interest, especially between AFFA and the government. We have taken a decision for the time being. When the situation is back to normal, there can be elections in the country.

"We just don't want the government interfering with AFFA's affairs. If it stops interfering, then we can go back to supporting the country."

But Maingot did not know if the investigations would be completed by the time of Azerbaijan's next Euro 2004 qualifier against Serbia and Montenegro on June 11.

"The ban is one thing and Euro 2004 is another. We cannot do anything about the knock-on effect there," he said.