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GREECE SUSPENDED BY FIFA

European champions Greece have been banned from international football competitions by world governing body FIFA because of government interference in the sport.

Both the national team and clubs are covered by the ban, handed down because the Greek FA had broken rules on "the independence of members and decision-making in each country".

The suspension will be in place with "immediate effect and until further notice", according to a Fifa statement.

A spokesman for the Greek FA said the verdict was unexpected.

"Fifa's ruling deals specifically with the independence of the national federation but it is a very complicated issue.

"We, of course, hope for a quick and favourable solution to this problem for the good of Greek football,” he said.

Fifa said that it had issued several warnings to the HFF to guarantee, by a 15 July deadline, that the running of football in the country would be free from political movement - but this had been ignored.