||-Kurdistan and FIFA membership-||

[brendar]

Some guys in this forum asked on how we can apply to become a member at the FIFA. So iam going to share with you an official written article which is published from the FIFA website which talks about FIFA membership in general and how a country or a region can apply. Therefore, first read the article and then read my post as i have made it simpler on how Kurdistan can also apply and become a member of FIFA.
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The FIFA family continues to grow

At the moment FIFA has 204 members - not even the United Nations can match that total. And it looks as if the football world governing body will grow even more; the number could reach 210.

In the last decade or so, FIFA has grown enormously, with about 40 new members joining the federation since 1993. The main causes of the increasing number of member countries were the political changes in ex-Yugoslavia and the former Soviet Union. As a result new independent countries were created and they became FIFA members in their own right. Currently, Micronesia, New Caledonia and others are in the process of applying for membership. Vincent Monnier, who is responsible for national associations at FIFA together with Jacqueline Gibert, estimates that soon the multicultural family could reach 210 members.

So who can join the ranks of FIFA? A basic requirement is that applicants are countries recognised by the international community. Regions or nations that are dependent on a parent country need the approval of the Football Association of that parent country before they can become FIFA members.As an example, Chechnia wanted to join not very long ago, but was not recognised as an independent state, since it still belonged to Russia. Theoretically they could still have joined FIFA, but only with the approval of the Russian Association, but this was not granted.
If a country decides to apply for membership, then a written application must be submitted first. Then there must be a declaration to accept and respect the official Laws of the Game, as well as FIFA Statutes and those of the confederation concerned. Then this confederation will observe the candidate country for a period of two years, to see that the requirements are being fulfilled. Among other things, the structure of the country's association will be examined and also its ability to organise a championship of its own.

If the confederation's report is positive, then FIFA will send a team of inspectors to carry out on-the-spot investigations. The association's headquarters will be looked at and also the national stadium, and discussions will be held with government representatives, usually the minister for sports. If this stage is passed successfully, then a recommendation to accept the country will be made to the FIFA Executive Committee. The final decision, however, is taken at a FIFA Congress, at which every member nation has a vote.

Serious sanctions
Once a country has become part of the FIFA family, then the requirement to observe and respect the regulations will of course remain in force. But not all members have managed to comply. At almost every congress, there will be between five and ten members who have temporarily lost the right to vote, perhaps because they have not taken part in a minimum of FIFA competitions or for some other reason. Now and then FIFA has to impose more serious sanctions and provisionally suspend a member from participating in any international activities. Monnier explains: "Those affected are often associations who are dependent on government funding. And the government then wants to influence the way football is run in the country. But we will not accept such political interference. For this reason we had to suspend Guinea recently."

Nobody at FIFA is happy when an association has to be suspended. Such measures are therefore only taken in extreme cases. Monnier believes that such problems will be less frequent as the associations gain greater financial independence: "The problem must be approached from this angle."

But it is not only for financial and political reasons that sanctions are imposed. South Africa for example was banned from participating in international football from 1976 to 1992 because of its apartheid policy. Despite having to deal with such cases, Monnier, who has worked for FIFA since 1992, is satisfied with his job. "My work with national associations is exciting and rewarding," he says. "I learn a lot from the different associations and I get an insight into other cultures and mentalities."

He takes real pleasure in overcoming difficult challenges, such as the case of Bosnia Herzegovina: "After the civil war all the different national factions down there began to play football together. Over a long period we held discussions with the association and finally it was all resolved. That made me very happy."

He also came away from the congress in Zurich last year feeling very satisfied: "When Bhutan was accepted as the latest member of the family, their whole country celebrated," says Monnier.
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Basically, Kurdistan (region) can also become a member of FIFA. However, Kurdistan is an autonomous region which means it is dependent on Iraq and needs the approval of the Football Association of Iraq before they can become a FIFA member. But, if Iraq doesn't grant the permission, then kurdistan will not be able to become a member. Anyway, lets assume that Iraq has granted the permission to us, then kurdistan football association has to submit a written application first to the FIFA. Then, there must be a declaration to accept and respect the official Laws of the Game, as well as FIFA Statutes and those of the confederation concerned. Then, this confederation will observe the candidate (Kurdistan) for a period of two years(Dont worry, it is definitely less this period as the South sudanese national team was approved in less than 10 months), to see that the requirements are being fulfilled. Among other things, the structure of the country's association will be examined and also its ability to organise a championship of its own(Well, the main reason for hosting VIVA was because of this point. This means we are on the way of hosting the VIVA world cup which will be a BIG IMPORTANT first evidence).

After, If the confederation's report is positive, then FIFA will send a team of inspectors to carry out on-the-spot investigations (in Kurdistan). The association's headquarters will be looked at and also the national stadium, and discussions will be held with government representatives, usually the minister for sports. If this stage is passed successfully, then a recommendation to accept the country or region (Kurdistan) will be made to the FIFA Executive Committee. The final decision, however, is taken at a FIFA Congress, at which every member nation has a vote. (This is the main point as for sure, iran, iraq, syria, and turkey will not vote, but they will not be able to stand our way as we are not requiring a UN membership and there are morethan 200 countries whom will vote).

In the meanwhile, Safin Kanabi the head of the Kurdistan football association said that they have already applied. So, maybe some of the steps that are explained above are already completed.

To make it more clearer, Kurdistan football assosiation has a structure as any other country. Morever, we have Kurdistan first league, second league, and third league. Plus, we have 3 international stadiums, ERBIL, DUHOK, SLEMANI. In addition, we have a good budget provided by the Kurdistan parliament.

NOTE: If Kurdistan becomes a member of FIFA, then kurdistan will not compete with iraq in any sports comepetion after that, which means we will be indpendent in sports.


http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisat ... index.html

[brendar]

Feel free to ask any questions..............

[jjmuneer]

If this happens, when will we be able to participate on an international scale?

[brendar]

If this happens, when will we be able to participate on an international scale?

Straight away. By the way, at the moment Kurdistan can play friendly matches against any other country in the world. I have some new pictures of kurdistan training today, navigate to the sport page.

[jjmuneer]

If this happens, when will we be able to participate on an international scale?

Straight away. By the way, at the moment Kurdistan can play friendly matches against any other country in the world. I have some new pictures of kurdistan training today, navigate to the sport page.

I don't know how much money we recieve, but I'm sure that would help. In better training and better coaching etc...

[brendar]

If this happens, when will we be able to participate on an international scale?

Straight away. By the way, at the moment Kurdistan can play friendly matches against any other country in the world. I have some new pictures of kurdistan training today, navigate to the sport page.

I don't know how much money we recieve, but I'm sure that would help. In better training and better coaching etc...

What do you mean by receiving money? in friendly matches you dont get paid! On the other hand, you will have to pay other countries like European ones to play against.