KUALA LUMPUR: Expressing concern over the resignations of most of the members of the Kuwait Football Association (KFA) Transitory Committee and the resulting lack of leadership, FIFA has directed the KFA to hold General Assembly elections, which are already overdue, between September 1-15, 2008.

This is in response to a request from the KFA to once again postpone the elections till the end of this year. Earlier, the KFA had requested FIFA and AFC to allow them to hold the elections after the Beijing Olympic Games.

However, FIFA pointed out that the resignations of most of the members of the KFA Transitory Committee at a time when the Kuwaiti national team is preparing for the Gulf Cup in Oman in early 2009 had left the body without firm leadership.

The elections are to be held in accordance with the KFA statutes previously approved by FIFA and ratified by the KFA Extraordinary Congress in November 2007. The positions of President, Vice-President and three Board members (total five) are to be filled up via the democratic process.

FIFA lifted its suspension placed on the KFA in 2007 only on a conditional basis, provided the statutes were ratified in accordance with FIFA’s Standard Statutes followed by elections, failing which the suspension would be reimposed.