Fernandez refused to obey ruling by FIFA’s disciplinary committee, but with time running out, had no option but to settle 400,000-euro debt.
By ALLON SINAILuis Fernandez 311(photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Israel national team soccer coach Luis Fernandez announced on Wednesday that he has resolved the legal problems that had led soccer’s world governing body FIFA to suspended him from all activity.The Israel Football Association had given the national team coach until March 4 to cancel the suspension which was handed down over a debt he owes to a club in Qatar.Fernandez refused to obey a November 2009 ruling by the governing body’s disciplinary committee, but with time running out, had no option but to settle his 400,000-euro debt with Al Rayyan so he could hold on to his job as Israel coach.FIFA has yet to officially lift the suspension, but both Fernandez and the IFA believe the official announcement is imminent.“In light of the fact that FIFA refused to give me more time to settle this problem I had to solve it as soon as possible so I would not have to leave my national team, which was something I had no intention of doing,” Fernandez said.“I have solved my suspension problem with FIFA. I hope that from now on everyone will unite around the national team. We all must believe in our chances of qualifying for Euro 2012.”The blue-and-white, which has four points from four matches in Group F, faces Latvia and Georgia on March 26 and 29, respectively, in its next 2012 European Championship qualifying matches.
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