FIFA has instructed the Israel FA to suspend national team coach Luis Fernandez with immediate effect.

The suspension relates to an outstanding debt the Frenchman has to Al Rayyan, the Qatari team he coached before taking the Israel job in May 2010.

A FIFA spokesman told the JC: “Coach Luis Fernandez did not comply with the decision taken by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on November 26, 2009. Therefore, Luis Fernandez is banned from taking part in any football-related activity with immediate effect.

The JC understands that Guy Luzon, Israel’s Under 21 coach, is on standby to step in as a temporary coach if the matter is not resolved before the team’s Euro 2012 qualifiers at home to Latvia and Georgia at the end of next month.

Fernandez said: “This is a legal battle that has been ongoing for years. I am certain that matters will be settled certainly by the time of the matches at the end of March."

Israel FA chairman Avi Luzon said: "I will meet Luis Fernandez and together we will see how to resolve the problem that has arisen."