FIFA urges Uganda football federation to amend constitution

Herald Globe (IANS) Friday 10th February, 2012

Football's world governing body FIFA has urged the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) to amend its constitution to avoid internal disputes in the future.

Primo Corvaro and Ashford Mamelodi, who are heading a FIFA team in Uganda to resolve the unending squabbles in the country's football management, told Xinhua that FUFA's constitution has a lot of loopholes.

Mamelodi, the FIFA Development Officer for Southern Africa, said that if the FUFA constitution had been clear enough, they would not have had the stand-off with Uganda Super League Limited (USLL), organisers of the country's top league.

"It is good that FUFA has accepted and seen their loopholes and agreed to make amendments. Likewise, the Memorandum of Articles of USLL needs to be in line with the FUFA constitution since it cannot differ with the federation's line of handling things in the constitution," Mamelodi was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

The two FIFA officials met the FUFA executive members, chairmen of the 16 Super Division clubs, the USLL officials and one of the league sponsors Supersport.

"We also agreed that the football rules are followed in the league and the two nabbed officials of USLL can only ask for pardon or take the matter to sporting arbitration bodies instead of court," said Corvaro.

"USLL members should withdraw all the court cases against FUFA because this is not right and football matters can be handled in a better forum," he added.

Earlier this week, Charles Bakkabulindi, Uganda's sports minister met various football officials and they made resolutions to try to end the impasse.

Following these meetings, it is expected that FUFA will lift the suspension of the league matches that are slated to take place Friday.