Fifa suspends Niger

Fifa boss Sepp Blatter was on the committee that suspended Niger

Fifa has suspended Niger from international football.

The sanction imposed on the West African country was the consequence of "repeated interference from political authorities" in the affairs of the Niger Football Federation.

Fifa's executive board took the decision on Wednesday, following a recommendation from their committee for national associations.

Warnings were also issued to Ethiopia and Nigeria to resolve their internal problems or face similar consequences.

Under Fifa rules, national football associations must not be subject to government control.

Niger's suspension, which starts immediately, has no effect on the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign.

They lost 7-0 on aggregate to Algeria in the preliminary round and failed to reach the group stages.

Fifa's committee for national associations, which reviewed 20 cases in September, said it was worried about a "considerable increase" of government interference in football matters.

Niger's ban follows a similar sanction imposed on Kenya earlier this year, after the government of the East African nation dissolved the country's federation.

Kenya's suspension was lifted in August after a Normalization Committee, charged with reforming the game, was set up with former athlete Kipchoge Keino as its head.