Is the fact that Greenland is not part of the UN the only reason as to why FIFA will not allow them to register their national football (soccer) team?

BRY2K

Good question, cube...I would suggest that this is not the only reason. It seems that the political requirement of FIFA were not in keeping wih the nature of Greenlandic sport (independent) and neither was prepared to compromise enough for full membership in FIFA. Here is part of an explanation I read from a Greenlandic perspective, "To understand the position of Greenlandic Football and the background for our relation to play against Tibet, some facts about our relation to FIFA: In 1998 Greenland applied for membership in FIFA and was friendly met by the administration of FIFA. We just wanted to be allowed to play friendly matches not to play in the World Cup! As you might know FIFA has a monopoly of football and it is not allowed for FIFA members to play matches against non-members. FIFA proposed us to apply for allowance to play international matches through the Danish F.A. but sports in Greenland are independent and it would not be in accordance with the (sport)political situation to establish dependency on Danish organisations. In the fall of 2000 the administration of FIFA was very optimistic as to finding a lex Groenlandica allowing us to have a restricted membership, giving us the possibility of playing international matches. But the football politicians in the last moment took this proposal of the agenda and never gave us an answer explaining their reasons. Not having the right to play against FIFA members we were looking for ways to break the monopoly of FIFA. One of the ways were to play against Tibet. So this match was a way of showing that is was still possible to establish international matches outside FIFA-regulations." http://www.playthegame.org/Knowledge%20Bank/Articles/Greenland%20fights%20for%20the%20right%20to%20play%20international%20football%20matches.aspx Mar 07 08, 4:47 AM

author

There are 16 FIFA members who are not UN members, so that is not a criteria. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA Greenland is not a member of FIFA and can therefore not play in the FIFA World Cup. In addition to FIFA, Greenland is neither a member of CONCACAF or UEFA. This is because Greenland cannot sustain a grass pitch to the permafrost which envelops Greenland. However, positive news has come for Greenland as FIFA and its members have approved the use of FieldTurf which could allow Greenland to host full internationals. Greenland has been given the provisional FIFA code of GRL. In more better news, they were selected to host the 2010 FIFI World Cup. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_Association_of_Greenland Mar 08 08, 1:26 AM