FIFA suspends Belize

World football's governing body, FIFA, says it had suspended the Football Federation of Belize with immediate effect because of "severe governmental interference".



The suspension means that the return leg of the qualifying tie for the 2014 World Cup, due to be played in Belize on June 19 between the home team and Montserrat, has been postponed.



The first game, played in Port of Spain on June 15, was won 5-2 by Belize.



FIFA says the decision followed the Belize government's informing the Football Federation of Belize on June 8 that it was "not authorised to represent the country in any local or international competition or in any other forum for football on behalf of the Government, People and Nation of Belize.



FIFA gave the FFB until June 30 to settle the dispute but the Belize government wrote to FIFA on June 16 saying the Belize police would "not be providing any services to the Federation with respect to the security of the visiting team and officials at the match" to be played on June 19.