Kuwait have been fined CHF10,000 and had to forfeit their World Cup qualifying match against Myanmar due to a FIFA ban ©Getty Images

Kuwait have been fined CHF10,000 (£7,000/$9,900/€9,000) by FIFA and forfeited their World Cup 2018 qualifying match against Myanmar after failing to fulfill the fixture because they were suspended.

The Kuwait Football Association (KFA) were temporarily banned from FIFA in October because of alleged Government interference.

They had been scheduled to play Myanmar on November 17, their sixth fixture in Asian qualifying Group G but the FIFA ban prevents them from taking part in international competition.

Kuwait are currently second in Group G with 10 points, level with Lebanon and eight behind leaders South Korea.

FIFA's decision to suspend Kuwait was followed a few days later by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), putting in jeopardy their chances of being able to compete at Rio 2016. 

The IOC banned Kuwait allegedly to protect the country from "undue Government interference” following the passing of a deadline to amend a controversial new law allowing far greater control over all sports bodies.

Kuwait's fans cheer their team on ahead of their qualifying match for the 2018 World Cup against South Korea last October, shortly before FIFA banned their team for Government interference ©Getty Images
Kuwait's fans cheer their team on ahead of their qualifying match for the 2018 World Cup against South Korea last October, shortly before FIFA banned their team for Government interference ©Getty Images

The announcement by FIFA came only a few hours after insidethegames revealed that the Kuwait Government had filed a 400 million dinar (£901 million/£1.3 billion/€1.2 billion)  lawsuit against 14 Board members of the Kuwait Olympic Committee (KOC).

Among those named in the action was Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, a member of FIFA's ruling Executive Committee and President of the Association of National Olympic Committees.

Others named included Sheikh Ahmad's brother, Sheikh Talal Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, President of the KFA and KOC.

An IOC spokesman today told insidethegames it was an “outrageous overreaction”.

FIFA is one of 17 International Federations who have suspended Kuwait as a result of the new sports law. 

"The decision was reached after a thorough analysis of all relevant information pertaining to the case, in particular the fact that the KFA has been suspended since 16 October 2015," said football's world governing body revealing the decision to fine Kuwait and make them forfeit the match against Myanmar in a statement today.