(ATR) Government officials in Kuwait have lobbied to Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa to lift the suspension against the country’s NOC and Football Association.
In a letter obtained by Around the Rings Kuwait Minister of Information and Minister of State Youth Affairs Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Hamoud Al-Sabah writes that the country is seeking a temporary relief of the NOC and FA suspensions to enact reforms to the country’s controversial sports law.
The IOC says the law, passed in October 2015, is in violation of the Olympic charter for removing autonomy from the country’s NOC and national federations. The IOC suspended the Kuwait Olympic Committee and FIFA suspended the Kuwait Football Association as a result of the law’s passage. Kuwaiti athletes competed at the Rio 2016 Games under the Olympic flag.
On Aug. 25 the Kuwait Public Authority of Sports deemed the KOC and the KFA violated the country’s sports law citing "financial irregularities." Both bodies were dissolved by the KPAS under orders from Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
In the letter Salman writes the Kuwait National Assembly has proposed a new committee be formed on Dec. 27 "concerned with youth and sports". The committee will then "review all draft laws and bill proposals" and meet with all relevant sport bodies within Kuwait to draft a new sports law in the next two months. The Kuwaiti government will then send a letter to the IOC showing the progress and intention of the new committee.
"We hope that you agree to temporarily lift the suspension imposed on Kuwaiti sport activity for enabling the Kuwaiti athletes to participate in qualifiers for the 2019 Asian Cup," Salman wrote. "Also, [hope to] accept the Kuwait Government’s invitation addressed to the IOC and relevant international sports federations to visit the state of Kuwait, for the purpose of discussing the sports situation, with the Kuwaiti Government and the National Assembly, in order to reach the consensus that satisfies all parties."
As all parties seek to reach a solution, the Asian Football Confederation said in a statement it has extended its deadline to decide on Kuwait’s participation in the next stage of Asian Cup qualification. According to the AFC statement, if there is not "significant progress" in lifting the KFA’s suspension, Kuwait will not be included in the next round of qualification.
The KFA was suspended by FIFA in October 2015, halting all chances at qualification for the 2018 World Cup. World Cup qualification matches were used to determine placement in Asian Cup qualification, meaning Kuwait’s suspension did not automatically disqualify them from the Asian Cup. But the suspension does mean that Kuwait is required to enter the qualification process for the Asian Cup at an earlier stage. If the suspension is lifted in time, Kuwait will learn its Asian Cup third round qualification opponents on Jan. 23.
Written by Aaron Bauer
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