FIFA take control of Uruguayan Football Association

FIFA has taken over the running of the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) and will oversee a transparent election for a new president, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) said.

The logo of FIFA is seen in front of its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland September 26, 2017. [Photo: VCG]

The AUF sank into crisis in July when Wilmar Valdez abruptly quit the presidency just hours before a vote in which he was expected to be re-elected.

Valdez cited family reasons for his decision, denying media reports that it was related to mysterious audio recordings about a stadium security contract that compromised his image.

An attempt to proceed with an election failed because two of the candidates did not meet CONMEBOL requirements.

In a letter sent to the AUF and confirmed by CONMEBOL, FIFA said it would bring the association's statutes in line with its own rules before holding a new election.

"The mandate of the regularization committee will run until Feb 28, 2019," the letter said. "The regularization committee will act as an electoral commission whose decision will be firm."

The AUF impasse has prevented Uruguay from renewing the contract of coach Oscar Tabarez. The country's under-20 coach, Fabian Coito, will take charge of the Celeste in a friendly against Mexico next month.