KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah meets with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. —KUNA

KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace yesterday the visiting FIFA President Gianni Infantino and a delegation accompanying him. Joined by Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Acting Minister of Information Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Sabah as well as Minister of Commerce and Industry and Acting Minister of State for Youth Affairs Khaled Al-Roudhan, His Highness the Prime Minister credited His Highness the Amir for his efforts to ensure that a two-year ban imposed on Kuwait's football federation is ultimately lifted. He said the lifting of the ban on the national football team was the culmination of a struggle on the part of the government to make sure that Kuwaiti footballers are allowed to play at international venues again.

His Highness the Premier cited a newly-drafted and FIFA-approved sports law as a catalyst that set in motion FIFA's decision to lift the suspension on the Kuwaiti football team. The encounter was attended by the head of His Highness the Prime Minister's Diwan Sheikha Itimad Al-Sabah and the Deputy Director General of the Public Authority for Sports Dr Humoud Flaiteh.

National achievement

Earlier yesterday, Roudhan congratulated the country's political leadership and people on lifting the suspension of Kuwaiti football activity officially by FIFA and welcomed the visit by Infantino to Kuwait. "I extend my sincere congratulations to His Highness the Amir and his Crown Prince and to the Kuwaiti people on such occasion," the minister said in a press statement. The minister also recalled the role of senior political leadership and support throughout the period of endeavors that culminated finally in this national achievement.

"The support and guidance of His Highness the Amir has been a driving force for exerting such tremendous work to resolve this complex issue," Roudhan said adding, "nothing would have been made without the direct support of His Highness the Amir and the support of His Highness the Crown Prince, to reach what we have reached today." Roudhan thanked all those who participated in the efforts to reach this auspicious day for Kuwait and the Kuwaiti people.

He also thanked efforts exerted by Parliament Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem, which were very critical and cannot be ignored, especially the tools and constitutional procedures that have been activated and amended recently, and the adoption of the new sports laws.

Tremendous efforts

Roudhan added that "the tremendous efforts exerted by the Speaker was certainly a uniting efforts along with His Highness the Prime Minister, and his government which went over every detail step by step until we got back rightfully.

"I would also like to thank the distinguished members of parliament, especially the members of the Youth and Sports Committee, who were keen to reach this result today," Roudhan added. "The people of Kuwait have the right to rejoice after the lift, we whole heartedly miss being in international competitions, and we hope to see Kuwait's flag back again shining high in the skies of international forums," he said. - KUNA