Drogba Disqualification: FIFA Suspends Ivorian Federation Election

Premier league veteran, Didier Drogba has been given a lifeline at becoming the next president of the Ivory Coast Football Federation after football’s governing body, FIFA on Friday August 28th called for the suspension of the Ivory Coast Football federation’s election following the disqualification of the former Chelsea marksman.

FIF discarded the candidacy of Drogba claiming that he had only obtained the official support of two of satisfactory four Ivorian clubs.

According to Drogba’s election team, on Thursday, it expected FIF’s decision which claimed he was ineligible to run for the position.

“Drogba’s staff isn’t surprised by this decision to reject the bid. But we remain unfazed. We will react to conform to the texts which surround this election,”
Mahamadou Sangare, a member of Drogba’s team, told AFP.

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However, FIFA who appear to be displeased with the proceedings of the West African nation’s federation election has chimed in on the issue.

In a statement, the world football governing body said that it wishes to suspend further processing of the FIF’s elections.

“We request the suspension of all action in relation to the election process until further notice,” the document released by FIFA, dated August 27, 2020 and sent to FIF said.

Drogba is vying for the seat against FIF’s former third vice-president Idriss Diallo, as well as the current vice-president of the national body and president of the League Sory Diabate.

The FIF however has not released a statement in response to FIFA’s suspension at the time of this report.

This is not the first time the FIFA has waded in on regional football politicking. In 2018, the world football governing body called for the reinstatement of Amaju Pinnick as the Nigerian Football Federation President after it learnt that the Nigerian had been removed from the seat unconstitutionally.