June 1 – Timed just two weeks before the FIFA Congress in Moscow, FIFA has lifted its suspension imposed on Guatemala 18 months ago over its failure to comply with anti-corruption rules.
The suspension prevented Guatemalan teams from participating in international competitions such as the Gold Cup, the Central American Games and the CONCACAF Champions League.
“FIFA has today lifted the suspension that was imposed on the Guatemalan Football Association,” the Guatemalan FA (Fedefut) said in a statement.
Whether that means the country can now vote in the upcoming ballot for the 2016 World Cup remains to be seen since local reports said it had to await a ruling from Concacaf before rejoining the international fray.
FIFA confirmed it made the decision after receiving a letter from Juan Carlos Rios, head of the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee to oversee Fedefut’s operations.
The suspension “is lifted with immediate effect, restoring all its rights as a federation member of FIFA,” Rios told a press conference. “It is a very happy day for us.”
FIFA kicked out Guatemala in October 2016 after it failed to authorise the normalization committee following the corruption scandal that rocked world football. Former Fedefut general secretary Hector Trujillo was the first person brought down in the scandal when he was handed an eight month prison sentence and fined $415,000 by a Brooklyn federal court.
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