Israel coach suspended over debts

Israel coach Luis Fernandez has been suspended from football with immediate effect by FIFA due to a debt allegedly owed to Al Rayyan.

Fernandez has been engaged in a long-running legal dispute with Al Rayyan over an unpaid debt ever since his brief stint as manager of the Qatari club in 2005.

FIFA’s disciplinary committee handed down a judgement against Fernandez in November 2009, one which the 51-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain manager has apparently failed to obey.

Now, the Israeli Football Association (IFA) has revealed it received an ‘official request’ from FIFA asking that Fernandez ‘cease all football-related activities immediately’ due to his failure to reimburse his former club.

IFA chairman Eli Luzon also indicated that he will meet with Fernandez in an attempt to come to a resolution with the Israel coach, who took over the national side in March 2010.

Speaking on French radio station RMC, Fernandez said he was unconcerned by the latest development in his lengthy battle with his former club.

“There is something going on at the moment, but I don’t want to say any more than that,” the former France international said.

“There is a criminal complaint, which has lasted five years, between FIFA and myself, and a law suit between two clubs and it is not for Luis Fernandez to sort out.”

“This is a sporting decision. There was a criminal complaint made against me, and from that moment a dossier was opened.”

“FIFA maybe wanted to anticipate the outcome and did not have all the ingredients pertinent to the case. It is vital they be patient, and we will see.”

“I am not going to reimburse something I didn’t take, it is simple.”

“If someone is claiming 400,000 euros and it is not me who took it from the safe nor stashed it at home, what do you want me to do, pay for others? I do not pay for others.”