Nigeria, Germany, 10 other countries to have ever been banned by FIFA and why

• Germany and Japan were banned after World War II, missing the 1950 World Cup
• South Africa faced a 20-year ban due to apartheid policies
• Nigeria faced a brief nine-day ban in 2014 due to political interference in their football federation

FIFA, the global body governing football, has sanctioned a range of countries for breaching its rules over the years. 

The most prominent case today is Russia, whose exclusion stems from its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This sanction serves as a reminder that football isn’t immune to political realities. But there are several other countries with similar bans in FIFA's history.

Although it may seem like an outright ban is the worst punishment a nation can face, being unranked is a separate issue. Teams can lose their FIFA ranking simply by failing to play official matches in 48 months, which has affected countries like Eritrea. The East African country, despite being eligible to compete, remains unranked on both the men’s and women’s world rankings due to constant fixture cancellations by their Football Association. 

Suspensions often result from government interference in football matters, a direct violation of FIFA’s rules that demand the independence of national football bodies. But there are also other reasons for a ban, including manipulation and cheating. 

Let's take a look at some of these cases.

12 countries ever banned by FIFA

TheRadar has compiled below a list of countries to have been suspended by FIFA for different reasons:

1. Germany and Japan (1950 World Cup)

After the devastation of World War II, both Germany and Japan were excluded from the 1950 World Cup, the first held since 1938. Their wartime actions led to them being blacklisted from global sports competitions. While Japan's Football Association had already been suspended in 1945 due to non-payment of dues, Germany's federation was dissolved and only reorganised long after the tournament.

2. South Africa (1970-1990 World Cups)

FIFA’s firm stance on apartheid policies led to South Africa being banned from football tournaments between 1970 and 1990. Although the country was initially suspended in 1961, they weren't formally expelled from FIFA until 1976 when João Havelange became president, ending the more lenient policy of his predecessor, Sir Stanley Rous. South Africa’s football exile lasted until apartheid was eradicated in the early 1990s, allowing the country to rejoin the world footballing stage in 1991.

3. Mexico (1990 World Cup)

Mexico's 1990 World Cup dreams were shattered when FIFA banned them for fielding overage players in a youth tournament. The "Los Cachirules" scandal erupted after Mexico's junior team, seeking to qualify for global competition, was found using four players who exceeded the age limit. The ban was limited to two years but excluded Mexico from one of football’s most prestigious tournaments. Mexico has since qualified for every World Cup, and they’re set to co-host the 2026 edition.

4. Chile (1994 World Cup)

In one of the more bizarre bans, Chile was disqualified from the 1994 World Cup when their goalkeeper, Roberto Rojas, staged an injury. During a match against Brazil, Rojas used a hidden blade to cut himself and pretended he was injured by a flare thrown from the stands. The stunt led to a life ban for Rojas and a FIFA sanction against Chile, banning them from competing in the 1994 tournament.

5. Myanmar (2006 World Cup)

Myanmar’s controversial suspension came in the lead-up to the 2006 World Cup. FIFA fined them $23,500 after they abruptly withdrew from a 2002 World Cup qualifier in Iran. Though that incident earned them a financial penalty, they were eventually banned from competing in the 2006 tournament altogether. In 2018, they faced another suspension, this time due to crowd trouble, but later had the ban lifted after agreeing to play on neutral grounds.

6. Russia (2022 World Cup, Euro 2024)

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 led to their indefinite suspension from FIFA competitions. As a result, Russia was excluded from both the 2022 World Cup and the upcoming Euro 2024. The ban persists, and the country remains barred from qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

7. Iraq (2008, 2009)

Iraq was banned twice in quick succession. In 2008, FIFA suspended them when the government dissolved the nation's football federation. The ban was lifted but reinstated the following year when Iraq’s Olympic Committee took similar action, disbanding the federation again. Both bans were short-lived as Iraq was swiftly readmitted.

8. Nigeria (2014)

Nigeria's short-lived FIFA ban in 2014 came after a World Cup fallout, where the executive committee of the Nigerian Football Federation was sacked and a civil servant took over operations. The ban only lasted for nine days, with FIFA lifting the sanction thanks to a court order.

9. Indonesia (2015)

Government interference led to Indonesia being barred from all FIFA competitions in 2015. The domestic league was suspended, and FIFA took issue with the government derecognizing the national football federation. After a long struggle, the ban was lifted in 2016, allowing Indonesia to re-enter international football.

10. Pakistan (2017, 2021)

Pakistan’s footballing woes led to FIFA suspending them twice in recent years. In 2017, the country faced a ban after its football federation was taken over by a court-appointed administrator, violating FIFA’s rules on third-party interference. The ban was lifted in 2018, only for Pakistan to be banned again in 2021 following a hostile takeover of the federation’s headquarters. The latest ban was lifted in 2022.

11. Zimbabwe (2022)

Zimbabwe is the most recent country to face FIFA’s wrath. The ban, implemented in 2022, was a result of government interference in the Zimbabwe Football Association amid sexual harassment allegations involving three female referees. Although the ban was lifted in July 2023, it followed years of turmoil within Zimbabwean football.

Nigeria at 64: 7 unforgettable sports milestones since Independence

Previously, TheRadar reported that as Nigeria marks its 64th year of independence, here is an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s journey, not only politically but also in the world of sports. While the African giant has faced numerous challenges in different spheres, its sporting triumphs stand tall as symbols of excellence over the last 64 years. 

Here, we journey through Nigeria’s seven greatest sporting milestones, with each one validating its present status on the continental and global sports stage.