FIFA has suspended the elections of the Sudan Football Association for six months ©SFA

FIFA has suspended the elections of the Sudan Football Association (SFA), which were scheduled to be conducted on Sunday (April 30), for six months following fears of political interference.

According to Xinhua, a letter from FIFA stated that a decision was taken following correspondence with the SFA and the emergence of a video which allegedly shows a candidate admitting intentions to run for Government office, something FIFA does not allow.

"Today we have received a letter from FIFA on delaying the elections for six months," Mohamed Sid Ahmed, an SFA official, said.

"A fact-finding delegation from FIFA will arrive after a month to get acquainted with the statute of the SFA.

"FIFA based its decision on a letter from the SFA and what it has monitored of a political and security intervention."

allafrica also reported that police were forced to intervene in a conflict between supporters of Mutasim Gafaar, the current President of the SFA, and an opposition group at the organisation's headquarters in Khartoum on Sunday.

Members then reportedly moved to the Khartoum Football Stadium, where the group held alternative elections in which they appointed a new committee of seven members.

FIFA were also forced to intervene in the 2010 Sudan Football Association elections ©Getty Images
FIFA were also forced to intervene in the 2010 Sudan Football Association elections ©Getty Images

Tarig Atta Saleh, a SFA member, said that the governing body will inform FIFA of the events and the pressure placed on members of the Election Commission to hold separate elections.

"Those who participated in these unfair procedures must bear the consequences, which may include the freezing of football activities in Sudan," he said.

In 2010, FIFA was also forced to intervene in SFA elections as a result of government intervention.

Football's governing body was unhappy that the Sudanese Government barred former SFA Presdient, Kamal Shaddad, from standing for a third term.

The SFA was established in 1936 and became a member of FIFA in 1948.

Currently ranked 154th in the world, Sudan has won the Africa Cup of Nations once when they hosted the tournament in 1970.

"We can confirm that the Bureau of the FIFA Council decided to give the SFA until 30 October 2017 to organise elections based on new FIFA-approved SFA statutes, otherwise the SFA shall be automatically suspended with immediate effect until elections are held," a FIFA statement said.

"Furthermore, the Bureau of the FIFA Council decided that a FIFA/CAF mission would be sent to Sudan in June 2017 to evaluate the current situation."