FIFA and UEFA, soccer's world and European governing bodies, suspended Bosnia earlier on Friday after the country's football federation (NFSBiH) failed to adopt new statutes in line with their rules.
The decision means Bosnia may not be able to carry on playing their Euro 2012 qualifiers, although the governing bodies said they would meet shortly to discuss how to bring the country back into the international fold as soon as possible.
"The FIFA and UEFA decision may be good because it could persuade the people who have obstructed Bosnia's soccer for years to leave," said Radmilo Sipovac, president of Bosnian first division leaders Borac Banja Luka.
FIFA and UEFA had asked the NFSBiH to replace its rotating three-man presidential system, which operates on an ethnic basis, by March 31.
However, the association's congress rejected a motion that would meet that request this week, leading to the suspension.
Under the current statutes, a Serb, a Croat and an ethnic Muslim take turns in holding the post.
NFSBiH secretary general Jasmin Bakovic said the federation's problems reflected wider political problems in Bosnia.
"We are simply a part of the general society and the NFSBiH is just a mirror image of the state," Bakovic told Reuters.
"In this country, if you don't meddle with politics, then politics will meddle with you.
"The worst-case scenario would be to have the suspension extended until the end of the year and that would certainly have catastrophic consequences."
In a joint statement, FIFA and UEFA said: "The NFSBiH representative and club teams are no longer entitled to take part in international competitions as of 1 April 2011 and until the...problem is solved.
"FIFA and UEFA deeply regret that this decision had to be taken and will meet shortly to discuss the next steps required to try to bring NFSBiH back into the football family as soon as possible." Bosnia are in a good position in qualifying for next year's European Championship finals.
They are fourth in Group D, five points behind leaders France and a point behind Belarus and Albania but with a game in hand on all three.
The group winners qualify automatically for the finals in Poland and Ukraine, with the second-placed team retaining a chance of going through either from a play-off or as the best of the runners-up.
Bosnia's next game is not until June 3, when they are due to play away to Romania.
Borac's Sipovac said he expected urgent action by Bosnian officials to resolve the problem.
"I expect an urgent formation of an interim body that would pass statutes fully in line with FIFA and UEFA requirements," he said.
"It would be irreparable damage for Borac to be left out of European competition now that we are so close to winning the league title."
