Fifa suspended Greece from all footballing activities yesterday, citing continued government interference in the running of the Greek FA (the Hellenic Football Federation).

World soccer's governing body warned the Greek government at its Congress in Morocco last September that it would be suspended from membership unless the autonomy of the HFF was respected.

In a statement yesterday, Fifa said there was no possibility of this happening by the imposed deadline of July 15 and the disciplinary committee had suspended Greece as a result. Greek FA chief Vassilis Gagatsis, who has repeatedly clashed with Sports Minister George Orfanos over the interference issue, refused to comment.

Orfanos has triggered the wrath of the Greek FA and FIFA after drafting a sports law shortly after the conservatives came to power in 2004 that the FA claims compromises its independence. Orfanos had repeatedly publicly pledged to revise the law but never did. England are due to play Greece at Old Trafford on August 16th in Steve McClaren's first game as new boss.