Gerrard, Pirlo and Xavi blocked from playing friendly clash in Kuwait

Los Angeles Galaxy footballer Steven Gerrard, left, and New York City's Andrea Pirlo, right, have been blocked from featuring in Kuwait ©Getty Images

FIFA has blocked footballing heavyweights Steven Gerrard, Andrea Pirlo and Xavi Hernandez from playing in a friendly match in Kuwait as the Gulf nation remains in the sporting wilderness.

The country was suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in October after the introduction of new sports law which it is claimed broke strict rules on Government interference within sporting bodies.

A total of 17 other International Federations followed suit and also suspended Kuwait, including FIFA.

The trio of players, who are among the most famous in the world, were due to play for a Football Champions Tour team in the exhibition game on Friday (December 18), against a Kuwaiti all-star side.

FIFA, which has accused the country's politicians of interfering with the Kuwait Football Association (KFA), has barred them from taking part as they are all registered with clubs.

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Gerrard and Italian legend Pirlo both play in the United States' Major League Soccer with Los Angeles Galaxy and New York City FC respectively.

Xavi, meanwhile, a great for Barcelona and Spain, currently represents Qatari team All Sadd.

Xavi Hernandez, now at Qatar side Al Sadd, has also been blocked from playing ©Getty Images

The match is due to take place at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium and other major stars without clubs - such as Brazilian legend Ronaldinho and retired former Manchester United man Paul Scholes - will be allowed to play.

Kuwait's suspension led to their qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup in Russia being stopped in its tracks.

The country are the subject of a FIFA Disciplinary Committee investigation which is considering sanctions after the ban led to the cancellation of a game with Myanmar.

Earlier this month, the situation in the country escalated when it was reported that Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti President of the Association of National Olympic Committees who is also a member of the IOC and FIFA's ruling Executive Committee, had been handed a six-month jail sentence for allegedly insulting the judiciary.

This was seen as the latest development of a personal feud between Sheikh Ahmad and and Kuwait's Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Homud Al-Sabah.

Sheikh Salman is the politician who has overseen the new sport law in the country, which came after his unsuccessful attempt to be elected as President of the International Shooting Sport Federation.

The Kuwaiti court also reportedly fined Sheikh Ahmad 1,000 dinar (£2,200/$3,300/€3,000) but he has vowed to fight his sentence.