FIFA suspends Barbados Football Association

Bridgetown:

FIFA suspended the Barbados Football Association because of a power struggle between the BFA's president and former secretary-general. FIFA did not announce the length of the suspension, but it was not expected to exceed a year. BFA president Ronald Jones confirmed the action, which first appeared on FIFA's Web site. He said the news was devastating for the island, whose national sport is soccer, and which boasts more than 200 BFA-registered teams of various levels. "It means essentially that Barbados has become a pariah relative to football in the world," Jones said on Sunday. "No one can play with or against Barbados." FIFA's decision was prompted by an ongoing power struggle between Jones and former secretary-general Randy Harris, who was contesting Jones' win in the September 2004 club-president elections. When FIFA arbitrators ruled in favor of Jones, Harris took the issue to the Barbados High Court, prompting FIFA to suspend the BFA. FIFA said it took action against the association because "one of its members continues to violate the FIFA statutes." Harris could not be reached for comment. (AP)