FIFA orders Kenya to clear soccer mess by Oct 18

NAIROBI, Sep 22 (Reuters) FIFA has given Kenya until October 18 to take action on agreements about government interference made in January or face sanctions, officials said today.

Kenya was threatened with suspension from all soccer activity at FIFA's annual congress in Marrakesh in October 2005 because of government involvement in running the sport.

Three months later at a meeting in Cairo, FIFA, the Kenya Football Federation (KFF) and African Confederation drew up a 28-point memorandum, which included setting up an independent company to run the league.

Yesterday, FIFA President Sepp Blatter sent a strongly worded letter to KFF chairman Alfred Sambu stating his disappointment at recent developments in Kenyan football, such as the ''worrying situation'' of national team, Harambee Stars.

''Before bringing the case of the KFF to the FIFA Associations Committee scheduled to meet on October 18, we would like to receive urgently the confirmation, in writing and in acts that the KFF will implement the 28 points negotiated in Cairo,'' Blatter said in the letter obtained by Reuters.

''There has been limited or no implementation at all of the huge majority of the 28 points agreed upon in Cairo,'' he added.

Kenya's top football league clubs are divided down the middle, with nine taking part in a parallel league started last week by the Kenya Premier League Limited, and 11 remaining with KFF PL Limited, due to start tomorrow. Six top clubs have withdrawn from the knockout President's Cup.

Sambu defended the KFF, saying it had implemented the major points of the pact.

''We're putting up structures in place and building the infrastructure ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. We're running a professional league, we have set up an independent company -- KFF PL -- to market and run it,'' Sambu told Reuters.

''The majority of its shareholders are Premier League clubs.

What more do they want?,'' he added.

Reuters PM GC1729