Azerbaijan’s football federation has been suspended until further notice by the game’s governing body FIFA.

The game in Azerbaihan has operated under a cloud since 2000 when leading clubs accused Azeri federation president Fuav Musayev of siphoning off federation funds.

“Having taken note of the latest developments in Azerbaijani football, most notably the severe and unacceptable levels of external pressure in recent times, the FIFA Emergency Committee has decided to suspend the Associationof Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA),” FIFA said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Having made numerous appeals to bring thesituation in the country back to normal, world football’s governing body had no other choice than to suspend the association.

“This suspension comes into force immediately and will be in place until further notice.”

In December FIFA ordered Azerbaijan to play all home internationals outside the country until further notice.

Further sanction came when UEFA banned Azeri clubs from European club competition this season.

Meanwhile, the Azeri championship was suspended indefinitely last year after 10 of the 11 premier division clubs resigned midway through the season.

Musayev has been charged with tax evasion and police arrested and following an investigation into the federation’s finances, federation secretary general Oktai Zeinalov, wass arrested earlier this month.