FIFA welcomes Kenya Football Federation suspensions

NAIROBI, Nov 28 (Reuters) The suspension of two top officials at the Kenya Football Federation (KFF) could prompt that country's return to international competition, a FIFA official said.

In a letter seen by Reuters today, FIFA President's Delegate on Special Affairs Jerome Champagne said the suspensions on Saturday of chairman Alfred Sambu and secretary-general Dan Omino were a ''strong base for a discussion on the return of the KFF to the world football community.'' FIFA banned Kenya from international competition on October 24 for failing to respect signed agreements and recurring problems in the national federation. The government responded by dissolving the KFF.

KFF contested that move in court, and at a crisis meeting on Saturday temporarily removed Sambu and Omino from office. Both officials said they will challenge their suspensions.

Champagne's letter to acting KFF chairman Mohammed Hatimy said the KFF had made good progress ''endorsing past agreements with FIFA and reaffirming the strong desire of the Kenyan football community to abide by universally-accepted principles.'' ''We would like to acknowledge your efforts for the return to good governance and respect of the legality within Kenyan football,'' the letter from FIFA headquarters in Zurich, dated November 27, said. ''We will contact you soon to propose a meeting to implement the next steps.'' Kenya's government had appointed a caretaker committee to run the country's most popular sport, which was in chaos with the KFF and rival group Kenya Premier League running two parallel championships using the same 18 teams, plus two more in the KFF.

Reuters PDS VV1858