Abkhazia wants to become FIFA member
SUKHUM. June 5 (Interfax) - Abkhazia intends to submit an application to join the world football governing body FIFA, Abkhaz Prime Minister Artur Mikvabia told a press conference in Sukhum in Sunday.
"Abkhazia's Football Federation has asked whether the republic's government will support their intention to join FIFA. We have said that we will support it and, after the championship, will ask FIFA to consider the issue of admitting our republic," he said.
"There have already been precedents when countries that are not UN members - Kosovo and Gibraltar - joined FIFA," he said.
"Certainly, we understand that FIFA has strict standards and requirements. The organization has its standards which the member countries' stadiums and infrastructure must meet. I think we will cope with this task. And the people will understand and support us," the Abkhaz prime minister said.
Mikvabia made this statement at the press center of the May 28-June 5 ConIFA World Cup for unrecognized states and ethnic minorities in Abkhazia.