Sierra Leone face FIFA ban after FA offices' raid

Published on: 21 September 2018

Sierra Leone has been warned by FIFA that it risks an international ban following the decision to overturn the leadership of the football association.

On Tuesday, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) seized controlof the Sierra Leone FA (SLFA) while forcing president Isha Johansen to step aside. Fifa's statutes forbid outside third-party interference in the running of its members.

"We request the SLFA to provide a detailed report on the current situation by no later than Monday 24 September," a Fifa letter to the SLFA said. Recent developments, if confirmed, would have to be brought to the attention of the Bureau of the Fifa Council for consideration of sanctions, including immediate suspension.

"It was reported to our services that on 18 September, the premises of the SLFA were apparently intruded by the ACC, allegedly with the collaboration of the Ministry of Sports and accompanied by armed forces," added the letter signed by Fifa Secretary General Fatma Samoura.

After the ACC's actions in Freetown, the commission handed control of the SLFA to vice-president Brimah Kamara and deputy general secretary Abdul Rahman Swarray. The duo must now address Fifa's request.

Local rules in Sierra Leone require that an official facing such charges must step aside until the case is closed.

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