Overview
- Groups Oldenstam and Kurban challenged Surinam’s federation elections in a civil court, which ordered the SVB’s bank accounts frozen, leaving the body without operating funds.
- FIFA statutes prohibit outside judicial interference in member federations, and reported options range from suspension to a normalization committee, though no decision has been announced.
- If a suspension is confirmed, Surinam would be removed from the intercontinental playoff and Bolivia would advance to face Iraq, jeopardizing the March 26 Monterrey fixture.
- Operational fallout includes the December 1 resignation of coach Stanley Menzo and the federation’s inability to hire a replacement due to the freeze.
- Regional outlets have floated Honduras and Guatemala as possible replacements if Surinam is excluded, but organizers have not confirmed any plan to insert another team, while separately FIFA logged about five million ticket requests in 24 hours and will open its resale marketplace on December 15.