FIFA Finally See Some Light & Could Be Led To Lift Zim Suspension

The World football governing body (FIFA) have finally see what the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) have been trying to prove to them all along, after finding a former Zimbabwe Football Association official guilty of abusing female refeeeres.

ZIFA and FIFA have been accused of “going silent” over allegations that female referees were sexually harassed by Zifa officials, prompting the SRC to intervene and suspended the Felton Kamambo led board in November last year citing various charges including graft, fraud and sexual abuse of female referees.

Fifa responded by ordering that the board be reinstated by 3 January.

The SRC ignored the ultimatum leading to Zimbabwe’s suspension from international football due to third party interference.

However, the ban of Obert Zhoya have left the world football federation with a bit of egg on the face.

Zhoya who was part of the Zimbabwe Football Association board as secretary general for the referees’ committee with influence over training match officials and appointing them to games, was handed a five year ban including a fine of 20,000 Swiss francs ($20,300).

In announcing the verdict of its ethics committee FIFA said evidence including written statements from the women led to the charges against Zhoya being proven. The allegations were first reported in 2020.

Meanwhile, FIFA will insist the vehicle of justice still functions. It just requires that people have faith in the machine while the judges turn the wheels individually by hand and third party should not be involved.

But the verdict on Obert Zhoya- finding him guilty of sexuall harassment of female refeeeres, puts FIFA in a compromising position and could be led to look deep into other allegations leveled against the ousted ZIFA executive and recognize the new board that was elected by the Association’s councilors during an extra ordinary meeting held in April to replace the Kamambo led executive.