DOHA, Qatar – Tunisia has received a warning from FIFA because of the participation of the government in the national football association. 

FIFA, the organization that oversees football worldwide, has warned the Tunisian Football Federation (TFF) that their team’s participation in the World Cup 2022 may be in jeopardy if evidence of government meddling in the organization is discovered. 

The North African nation, who has qualified for its sixth World Cup, is in Group D with the current world champions France, Australia, and Denmark, whom they will play on November 22.

FIFA expressed its concerns in a letter to TTF earlier this week after Tunisia’s Youth and Sports Minister Kamel Deguiche threatened to disband some federal offices and made other recent remarks that displeased the world’s football governing body. 

The federations of all FIFA members must be free of interference from outside parties or governments. 

Because of this violation, Kenya and Zimbabwe are currently prohibited. For the same reason, India was momentarily stopped in August of this year. 

FIFA acknowledged the letter to the Reuters news agency but would not elaborate. The TFF did not immediately respond.

The TFF was reminded in a letter from FIFA’s director of member associations, Kenny Jean-Marie, to general secretary Wajdi Aouadi that the association had a responsibility to act independently and avoid undue influence from other parties. 

It stated that any failure to follow through could result in penalties being imposed in accordance with FIFA regulations, including suspension of the relevant association. 

The group stages are where the team has never progressed past. It defeated Panama 2-1 at Russia 2018 to record its second World Cup victory and its first since 1978.

Why is Tunisia in Hot Water?

Following remarks by the nation’s sports minister, FIFA has threatened to exclude Tunisia from the 2022 World Cup. 

Qatar 2022 might forbid Tunisia from entering. They qualified this year in March. 

FIFA may now become involved in this important sporting issue. 

So what is the issue? The potential of “dissolving federal offices of different disciplines” has put Tunisia’s participation in the 2018 World Cup in jeopardy, according to Kamel Deguiche, the minister of youth and sports in Tunisia. FIFA appears to have interpreted this to mean the Tunisian Football Association (FTF).

FIFA has requested clarification of these remarks in a letter that was leaked and made public by the radio station Mosaique FM. The letter makes reference to “State authorities’ attempts to meddle in the internal affairs of the Tunisian Federation and its threats to dissolve FTF’s office.” 

“In this regard, we would like to remind you that member associations of FIFA are legally required to conduct their activities independently and free from undue interference from third parties,” the statement reads. Penalties under Fifa laws, including suspension of the appropriate association, may be imposed for any failure to uphold these responsibilities.

If FIFA takes action, it can result in the Tunisian national team being barred from the November 20 World Cup in Qatar. Currently, Tunisia is in Group D with France, Australia, and Denmark.

Tunisia at FIFA World Cup

The FIFA World Cup, the biggest men’s football tournament in the world, was attended by Tunisia five times: in 1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2018. They will compete in the finals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar for the sixth time.[1] Tunisia has never been able to go past the group stage in any of its tournament appearances; in fifteen games, it has won twice, tied four times, and lost nine times. At the Stade d’Honneur in Casablanca, on October 30, 1960, the team faced Morocco in its first World Cup qualification game.

With two goals in the 2018 competition, Wahbi Khazri holds the record for most goals scored by a Tunisian. The two Tunisian players that have participated the most are Riadh Bouazizi and Kaies Ghodhbane (eight games in 1998, 2002 and 2006).

As of 2018, Tunisia have never advanced past the World Cup group stage. They’ve defeated Mexico in 1978 and Panama in 2018, respectively, and won both games.