FIFA lift Fernandez suspension: Israeli federation

FIFA have officially lifted all restrictions against Israel national coach Luis Fernandez who was suspended from all football activity by them last month, the Israeli football federation announced on Monday.

"FIFA have officially announced that all the restrictions concerning the Israel coach have been lifted," a statement on the federation's website read.

Fernandez said simply: "Now we can all move forward."

The 51-year-old Spanish-born former French international was suspended by world football's governing body on February 20 because of an outstanding judgement made against him in 2009 relating to a debt at Qatari team Al-Rayyan he had coached in 2005.

Fernandez insisted last week that he had resolved the legal issues that had led to his suspension. "Since FIFA did not agree to give me further time, I have had to fix the problem to prevent a suspension," Fernandez told AFP.

Fernandez has not had much success since taking over the Israeli national team last March, racking up just one win in European qualifying, over Malta.

Fernandez, who played 60 times for France and was a member of the side that won the 1984 European Championship title, coached Paris Saint Germain to the 1996 Cup Winners Cup, and was also in charge of Spanish sides Athletic Bilbao and Espanyol.