Gerrard, Pirlo, Xavi

ZURICH/BUDAPEST: Steven Gerrard, Andrea Pirlo and Xavi Hernandez have been stopped from playing in a friendly in Kuwait because of the nation's ban from international football. Kuwait was suspended by FIFA in October because of government interference, a case which threatens the country's place in World Cup qualifying. The ban from international competitions extends to active players registered with clubs from taking part in the Football Champions Tour friendly in Kuwait on Friday against a local all-star team.

Organizers said Pirlo and Gerrard, who play in Major League Soccer, as well as Qatar-based Xavi are no longer able to participate. "Such principle is, of course, also to be followed at all sporting levels involving football in the territory of the state of Kuwait," FIFA acting secretary general Markus Kattner wrote to member associations last week. Yesterday, the FIFA disciplinary committee will consider sanctions for Kuwait for failing to fulfill a World Cup qualifier against Myanmar last month after it was banned. The ruling is not expected this week.

The International Olympic Committee has also suspended Kuwait, risking its athletes' chances of qualifying and competing at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. IOC president Thomas Bach said yesterday the Kuwaiti government must "come to the table" and resolve the sports law which has caused the country to be banned. Kuwait was suspended in October for the second time in five years over government interference in the country's Olympic Committee. The sports ministry has also ordered the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to vacate its headquarters in Kuwait by April 2016.

Bach, attending a meeting to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Hungarian Olympic Committee, said the law which led to Kuwait's ban needed to be changed. "We will insist on our worry that the sports law is not in compliance. I think this is also in the interest of the Kuwait authorities and the Kuwaiti athletes to ensure this compliance and not forcing their other federations to escalate the issue. They have to come to the table," Bach said. "The IOC has always made it clear it is ready to address the various stipulations of the law that need to be changed." - Agencies