HONG KONG -- Macau's government on Thursday disputed FIFA's
reasons for suspending the Chinese territory from the sport.
Soccer's governing body Tuesday cited "serious interference"
from the local government. Macau sports officials said the
suspension stemmed from a dispute over dueling boards of directors
for the Macau Football Association.
Macau Sport Development Board head Alex Wong told The Associated
Press the government did not intervene in the association's
internal matters.
Macau is ranked 190th of 205 national teams. The territory is
hosting the East Asian Games in October, with nine nations or
territories participating. If the FIFA suspension remains, the
event will be without soccer, Macau Football Association General
Secretary Alexander Rego said.
Macau, a former Portuguese colony, was returned to China in
1999. It fields separate teams from the mainland in international
sports competitions.