SAFF tourney postponed

Bangladesh's suspension by the world soccer body has compelled organizers to postpone the regional South Asian Football tournament, slated to begin in Dhaka later this month, a soccer official said on Tuesday.

"It has been decided that the tournament be postponed," South Asian Football Federation chairman Ganesh Thapa said after an emergency meeting of soccer officials in Kathmandu.

The South Asian Football tournament was scheduled to begin on January 26 in Dhaka, but FIFA's suspension of Bangladesh debars the country from participating or hosting any international event.

Teams from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives were expected to participate.

FIFA slapped the suspension on the Bangladesh Football Federation last week because of "government interference" in the federation.

According to FIFA, the committee reached its decision because the lawfully elected executive committee of the Bangladesh federation had been removed without just cause. This was a serious violation of statutes of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.

Thapa, who also heads the All Nepal Football Association, met with Sirajul Islam of Bangladesh, who is the SAFF secretary, and decided on the postponement.