FIFA’s statutes require that all member associations — including national football federations — remain independent and free from political or governmental interference. Article 19 of the FIFA Statutes states that each member association must manage its affairs independently and ensure that its own affairs are not influenced by any third party, including governments. This principle is meant to protect the autonomy of football organizations and ensure that decisions about elections, management, and sporting matters are made according to the federation’s internal rules, not political agendas or state directives.
In practice, this means that governments cannot intervene in how national football associations operate, such as by appointing or removing presidents, influencing elections, or controlling financial or administrative decisions. Even actions that appear indirect — like exerting political pressure on officials or using state institutions to sway decisions — can be considered interference under FIFA’s rules. Federations must also ensure that their statutes, regulations, and decisions are independent of any political influence and aligned with FIFA’s own governing principles.
