THE FAI could be slapped with Fifa sanctions if they deem the Irish Government is interfering in the association’s affairs, a sports industry expert has warned.

Sport Ireland and the footballing body have set up a five-person FAI governance review committee tasked with proposing reforms — with SI holding a majority.

1 Sport For Business Chief Executive Rob Hartnett warned the FAI could be in Fifa's crosshairs Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription

All national footballing bodies competing in Fifa-sanctioned events must operate independently with no influence from state government.

And Sport For Business Chief Executive Rob Hartnett warned the FAI could be in the crosshairs.

He said: “There is a care that needs to be taken over the Government’s natural inclination to make sure things are done correctly at an Irish level, to ensure they aren’t perceived internationally as being a case of interference.”

A Fifa suspension would mean Ireland’s national teams and clubs would be banned from playing in international competitions, and funding would cease until reinstatement was granted.

Here are some example of countries that have come under scrutiny by the world footballing body for perceived governmental interference . . .

Spain

BACK in late 2017, the Euro giants were threatened with being booted out of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Fifa warned their footballing body that the government’s involvement in the election of the federation’s new president could cause their expulsion.

The threat arose after the Spanish sport ministry called for the election of a new president for the RFEF. The call came after long-time president Angel Maria Villar was forced to resign following a corruption investigation.

Indonesia

THE Southeast Asian nation was banned in May 2015 after the country’s sports ministry and football association (PSSI) failed to resolve a dispute over who ran the game in the country.

The Indonesian Professional Sports Agency, sanctioned by the ministry, wanted two teams blocked from the league there but the PSSI resisted.

The suspension ruled the national team out of the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup qualifying campaigns.

Sudan

THE African nation was suspended by Fifa in July 2017 after the Ministry of Justice ordered the removal of the football association’s president and the association’s board.

This move came about after two rival group claimed control of the country’s association. The ban resulted in three of the country’s domestic clubs being thrown out of African competitions.

Two clubs were disqualified from the African Champions League, while a third was booted out of the Confederation Cup.

Sierra Leone

THE West African nation was suspended from international football in October last year.

The ban was handed down after the country’s anti-corruption commission barred two top SLFA officials from the governing body’s offices.

The ACC insisted SLFA president Isha Johansen and general secretary Christopher Kamara vacate their posts until their case on corruption-related charges ends. The country also had two Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches with Ghana called off.

Pakistan

FIFA suspended the Pakistan Football Federation for appointing a third party to broker a solution between two warring factions.

The decision came as it emerged the football federations offices and accounts were under the control of a court-appointed administrator.

Pakistan’s national and club teams were banned from international competitions. It also prevented members from benefiting from any development programmes, courses or Fifa training.

Nigeria

IN July 2014, the Nigerian Football Federation was suspended after a court ordered the minister of sports to appoint a civil servant to run the federation.

The executive committee of the federation was sacked following World Cup 2014, when Nigeria were knocked out in the second round.

The ban meant that no Nigerian team, including club sides, were illegibly to play internationally.

Nigeria were previously landed in hot water for a similar reason in 2010.

Kuwait

THE Gulf nation was banned for over two years after Fifa ruled that government was meddling with the Kuwait Football Association’s affairs.

The ban was imposed in October 2015 and ran until November 2017. It prevented Kuwait from playing World Cup qualifiers. And because the 2019 Asian Cup qualifying was linked to the World Cup, Kuwait also dropped out of the continental competition.

Kuwaiti clubs were also banned from participating in the continental AFC Cup.

Guatemala

THE Guatemalan football ­federation was suspended by Fifa for political interference and failure to comply with anti-corruption rules.

Following a corruption scandal in the nation’s federation, Fifa set up a committee to oversee the country’s footballing body.

However, sports regulators within Guatemala suspended the committee saying that it had not correctly used the procedure for looking into players who had been sanctioned for doping.