FIFA Issues Zimbabwe An Ultimatum: Tells SRC To Restore ZIFA Board Or Face Sanctions
FIFA has ordered the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), to overturn its decision to suspend the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) board before 3 January at the latest, or face sanctions.
The SRC suspended the Felton Kamambo led ZIFA board on 16 November 2021 on several allegations of gross incompetence that includes corruption, mismanagement of public funds and sexual harassment scandals.
On 16 December the SRC moved further to appoint a restructuring committee to oversee the running of football in the country until next year’s elections.
But, in a letter addressed to suspended ZIFA General Secretary Joseph Mamutse yesterday, FIFA Chief Member Association officer Kenny Jean-Marie beleived the allegations to suspend the ZIFA board have no basis.
“The decisions by the SRC to suspend all the ZIFA executive committee members based on mere allegations without proof of a final and binding […] and subsequently to appoint a “restructuring committee” in lieu of the ZIFA executive committee [… ] to be clearly contrary to FIFA statutes which stipulates that all FIFA member associations including ZIFA are obliged to manage their affairs independent of third parties, ” read part of the letter.
“As a consequence, should such [… ]be considered by FIFA to constitute undue third-party interference in the internal affairs of ZIFA, the appropriate sanctions may have to be imposed on ZIFA by the competent FIFA body.
In such a case, all Zimbabwean football would suffer the consequences, especially on the eve of the AFCON 2021, ” read the letter.
The world football body acknowledged that they had a couple of meetings with the SRC in trying to work together a swift and positive outcome to the presented situation.
Accordingly it had been agreed that a draft road map for 2022 would be shared with ZIFA for implementation, including the resolution of the most urgent issues.
A Zoom meeting was scheduled for 14 December between SRC and ZIFA in order to finalise the relevant roadmap. In return SRC was to lift the suspension of the ZIFA board.
However, SRC who are adamant to see the board dissolved, declined to participate in the final meeting, instead informed FIFA that it had appointed a restructuring committee that would run until December 31, contradicting FIFA statutes that allows only the world football body to remove executive bodies of member associations and appoint normalization commitee.
FIFA has warned that if SRC’s decision to suspend the ZIFA executive committee members and to appoint a “restructuring committee” instead are not reversed before 3 January 2022 at the latest, the matter will be presented to the Bureau of FIFA Council for consideration and decision.
Meanwhile, ZIFA Communications and competitions manager Officer Xolisani Gwasela yesterday released a depleted 30-man Zimbabwe Warriors provisional squad on behalf of ZIFA to begin camp on the 23rd of December in preparations for the Africa cup of nations starting on the 9th of January to 6 February.
It is now wait to be seen whether the SRC who vowed to go ahead in ‘cleaning football’ by dissolving the incompetent ZIFA board would eventually bow down to FIFA demands or brave to face the consequences.
