FIFA does not suspend El Salvador but the conflict of the statutes with the government still awaits a solution

According to reports, FIFA does not want members of the previous FESFUT executive committee in its new Regularization Committee

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Lawyers of the Salvadoran Football Federation talk to the media after meeting at the Attorney General?s office to hear about an investigation for alleged fraudulent administration and money laundering, in San Salvador, El Salvador July 18, 2022. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas
Lawyers of the Salvadoran Football Federation talk to the media after meeting at the Attorney General?s office to hear about an investigation for alleged fraudulent administration and money laundering, in San Salvador, El Salvador July 18, 2022. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas

Professional soccer in El Salvador continues to be immersed in what several experts describe as the worst crisis in its history, despite the fact that FIFA just a week ago decided not to suspend its national federation.

The main professional league in the country has not yet been reactivated, although soccer and soccer players breathe easier because FIFA didn’t suspend the Salvadoran Football Federation (FESFUT), and the international commitments of the clubs and the national teams will not be affected.

But there is still no specific date for professional soccer to jump back onto the pitch.

That determination depends on the new Normalizing Commission that will now be in charge of FIFA and not the National Sports Institute (INDES) directed by Yamil Bukele, brother of the President of the Republic.

The INDES seems to remain on the lookout these days after betting on the rectification of measures that FIFA considered “interfering.” In light of the events, and at least until Monday, FIFA’s reaction is in line with Bukele’s forecasts for the solution of the crisis.

FIFA affirmed there was government intervention but did not punish anyone. INDES has denied any intervention.

The FIFA Regularization Commission aims to normalize the activities of local football, the revision of statutes and the call for new elections. This entity is expected to start operating this week. An announcement of members of the commission could be any day.

FILE PHOTO: FIFA logo near its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, February 27, 2022. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
FILE PHOTO: FIFA logo near its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, February 27, 2022. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

Meanwhile, earlier Monday it was revealed FIFA has already decided there will be no former FESFUT leaders in the new Regularization Committee, and it does not want any person linked to the national federation either. It is even anticipated those who make up this commission may not be directly involved with Salvadoran soccer, according to the TUDN.com site.

Apart from this process in which FIFA intervenes, the investigations of the local Prosecutor’s Office continue around accusations of alleged acts of corruption in the FESFUT.

The expectation regarding the future of soccer in El Salvador is today in the discrepancy around the statutes in what apparently one of the two parties, FIFA or INDES, would have to give in for a light to appear at the end of the tunnel of this crisis.

FIFA has been severe with the FESFUT but at the same time hopes that INDES recognizes the national federation as an autonomous entity who operates without any legal impediment. For this, the Government would have to make exceptions in its General Sports Law to avoid discrepancies with the statutes of FESFUT and FIFA.

The second possibility is FIFA adapts its statutes to the requirements of the General Sports Law as the other national sports federations have done. In this way, the FESFUT would be under the jurisdiction of FIFA and INDES.

Can this conflict be resolved? Hopefully, but since August 1, the FESFUT does not have credentials to operate because it is not attached to INDES.