FIFA has given Sudan's federation two weeks to hold new and independent leadership elections or face immediate suspension from world football, jeopardizing its opening qualifier for the next Africa Cup of Nations.
FIFA wrote to Sudan on Monday refusing to recognize the results of elections held last week, and set an Aug. 15 deadline for fresh polls ''without any influence of third parties.''
''If the process set by the FIFA Emergency Committee does not materialize by Aug. 15, the SFA will be immediately suspended,'' football's global governing body said in a statement.
Sudan was threatened with suspension before the elections because the government prevented some candidates taking part and ordered others to pay what FIFA called a ''prohibitive'' fee to stand.
FIFA rules protect football leaders from government interference, and allow it to exclude national teams, clubs and officials from international matches and meetings if politicians refuse to back down.
Ranked No. 121 in the world, Sudan is scheduled to begin qualifying for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations at home against Congo in Khartoum over the Sept. 3-5 weekend. The group is completed by World Cup quarterfinalist Ghana and Swaziland.
Sudan is also slated to host the African Nations Championship - a second-tier continental event restricted to home-based players - and African football's annual congress next February.
