Fifa has warned Chile they risk World Cup expulsion if they do not intercede in a footballing dispute.
World governing body issues warning over Rangers dispute
Fifa has warned Chile that the country risks expulsion from next year's World Cup if they do not intercede in a footballing dispute.
The warning comes as former Chilean Primera Division outfit Rangers have appealed to the country's courts of justice after being deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player - a punishment which led to their demotion from the top flight.
But Fifa statutes prevent civil or political intervention in football matters, and the governing body has given Chile's National Association of Professional Football 72 hours to intervene in the matter.
The warning was sent in a letter to the Chilean Football Federation president Harold Mayne-Nicholls on Thursday.
Appropriate sanctions
Signed by Fifa secretary general Markus Kattner, the letter states: "Please urge your association-affiliated club, Rangers, to withdraw the appeal before the ordinary courts of Chile within the next 72 hours, or otherwise... (we will) decide appropriate sanctions... in accordance with Article 64, sec. 3 of the Fifa statutes.
"If your association does not take the necessary steps as we have indicated, the matter may be submitted to the Fifa Executive Committee at its meeting on 3 December 2009 in Cape Town, South Africa, so that this body (could) consider imposing suspension against the Football Federation of Chile."
Marcelo Bielsa's side booked their place in next summer's finals in South Africa by finishing second in the South American qualifying zone.
