FIFA to allow Gambia to elect new FA leaders

FIFA will allow Gambia to elect new football leaders in a deal that means the country can still play in African Cup and World Cup qualifiers later this year.

Elections for a new Gambia Football Association board must now be held by Sept. 30, FIFA said, after Alieu Jammeh, the minister of sport, dissolved the former FA board following a home defeat to Algeria in an African Cup qualifier this month.

That prompted football's international governing body to warn of ''severe sanctions'' against Gambia for government interference. But a compromise was reached after FIFA president Sepp Blatter and secretary general Jerome Valcke met with Jammeh and other Gambian officials this week.

FIFA added Blatter had nominated a seven-member GFA ''normalization committee'' to organize the elections and ensure they followed FIFA rules.

Gambia's national team was cleared to play international qualifiers in June, while club sides Brikama United and Gamtel FC could continue their respective campaigns in the African Champions League and Confederation Cup this weekend.

''The move allows the Gambian teams to participate in all FIFA and CAF (Confederation of African Football) tournaments and will allay the fears of all football enthusiasts that were worried about Gambia's international competitions,'' the country's sports ministry said on Thursday.

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Associated Press writer Abdoulie John in Banjul, Gambia contributed to this report.