Spain could be kicked out of Euro 2008?

With the opening kickoff less than four months away, FIFA is threatening Spain with the ultimate penalty - expulsion from the European Championship.

Because of FIFA's hard line when it comes to governments interfering with national soccer federations, Spain could face a suspension that could see it banned from Euro 2008.

"It's by no means an empty threat,'' UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "I think FIFA would sanction Spain if there is no agreement.''

The problem in Spain arose when the Socialist government asked all sports federations not competing in this year's Olympics to hold elections before the Beijing Games in August. The Spanish soccer federation, however, doesn't end its four-year term until November.

"It's not up to a government to tell a federation when to hold elections,'' Gaillard said.

Spain, ranked fourth in the world, isn't the only country facing such problems, but it is the only one that could get suspended from participating in June's continental championship in Austria and Switzerland.

"FIFA's rules regarding elections are 100 percent compatible with Spanish law and with its electoral processes,'' Spanish Sport Minister Jaime Lissavetzky said. "The truth is I don't see anything to the contrary and, if there is something, (FIFA) need to tell me.''

Lissavetzky said he would follow national laws in dealing with the Spanish federation should it not hold elections before March 31 as the government insists.

"I have no interest in harming Spanish sport, my job is exactly the opposite of that,'' Lissavetzky said. "Neither do I want confrontation with FIFA.''

Earlier this month, FIFA warned Albania it could be suspended, provisionally lifted a suspension against Kuwait, forced Turkey's government to accept independent soccer statutes and monitored elections for soccer officials in Iran, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Burkina Faso.

FIFA also said it was working with soccer officials to hold elections in the Central African Republic, Indonesia and Palestine, and resolved a government interference case in Peru. Other cases are still pending in Cyprus, Dominica and Togo.

The bulk of FIFA's influence over these governments comes from its ability to ban teams from international competition.

It "is a very powerful weapon, so governments do give in,'' Gaillard said.

In the case of Spain, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has threatened to call an emergency executive committee meeting to discuss the problem. The next regularly scheduled executive committee meeting is scheduled for March 14.

"FIFA has the utmost respect for national laws. But if you are a member of an organization, and you agree to adhere to its regulations, then you must do so,'' FIFA said in an e-mail.

FIFA also said it wouldn't let Spain off easy just because it is among the best teams in the world.

Luis wrote:hope so, Torres will get a rest for the summer

S4P wrote:Or a darkie.

Marcus wrote:Does Brazil have a Jewish population?; sorry for being ignorant never knew.

Marcus wrote:Mengele I know famously lived in São Paulo .. Fey must be a fan of his.

mardruck wrote:For what I know, most nazi germans went to Argentina, including Mengele (before São Paulo, I think).

Well, that's what school taught me...

mardruck wrote:@ Juligen, where are you from?

(and, please, take it off this repugnant team from your avatar

mardruck wrote:O Fábio, que tu deves conhecer como mongrel_hawk é um amigo meu, e me INTIMOU a entrar aqui. Vim e curti, o pessoal é gente fina.

Eles não reclamam se a gente fica falando português?

Juligen wrote: do you agree with what they did to Mancini? it was strange to me.

mardruck wrote:

Juligen wrote: do you agree with what they did to Mancini? it was strange to me.

Yes. He was playing a very offensive game, letting small teams pressuring us, like Jaciara in the Brazillian Cup.

Celso Roth is more like Grêmio. Defensive style and is not afraid of putting even the best player in the team in the bench to make him more humble (like Ronaldinho in 1998). And, with him, I saw already two comebacks, something I couldn't even imagine with Mano Menezes.

Anyway, we're fine. I honestly think we've got what it takes to get this Brazilian Cup and even, luckly, Copa Sudamericana.

Senor Woody wrote:Good to see more South American and Brazilian fans on here



Can one of the Brazilians tell me whatever happened to Kerlon? There was massive hype over here in Europe about the kid, then nothing.

Regarding the topic- IF Spain were kicked out, who would replace them?