FIFA steps in to manage Samoa Soccer Federation
Updated
Football's world governing body, FIFA, has sent an emergency team to Samoa to work with the debt ridden Samoa Football (Soccer) Federation.
FIFA's website says a committee will work for one year "to restore the proper administration of football in Samoa and to protect the Samoa Football (Soccer) Federation and its assets."
The five-member committee plans to settle the debts and then hand over running of the Federation to newly elected officials.
FIFA says the Emergency Committee considered that the situation, with outstanding debts being faced by the SFSF, endangered not only the association, but also FIFA's Goal project in Samoa.
Samoa Football's governing body, the Oceania Football Confederation, has refused to comment on the matter.
Samoa's national team is ranked number 157 in the world but has not played an international match since September 2007, when it was knocked out of Oceania continental qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.
