PARIS (AFP) - World and European football's governing bodies FIFA and UEFA have given their backing to the Macedonian Football Association in its dispute with its government.

FIFA statutes deem that national football associations must be free from government meddling.

FIFA and UEFA released a joint statement after the Macedonian FA met with the two bodies' respective presidents Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini.

"FIFA and UEFA condemn the Macedonian government's repeated interference aimed at undermining the association and its leaders' legitimacy and reiterate that such interference constitutes a breach of Article 17 of the FIFA Statutes and Article 7 of the UEFA Statutes," said the two bodies in the statement.

"FIFA and UEFA furthermore reiterate their demand that the Macedonian government restore the situation to normality and immediately cease all interference in the association's affairs.

"Failing this, FIFA and UEFA shall agree on the measures to be taken in accordance with the sanctions provided for such circumstances in their statutes."

Neither body affirmed what those measures might be but other countries have been banned from international football after their governments interfered in the affairs of the national football association.

Iran was suspended for three weeks last year over similar reasons while FIFA only resolved a dispute with the Polish government earlier this month.