Zimbabwe's suspension from FIFA to be discussed at congress

Uncertain future: Zimbabwe's future as a member of FIFA will be discussed at the FIFA Congress in Kigali Rwanda / Photo Credit: Courtesy

FOOTBALL Zimbabwe's suspension from FIFA to be discussed at congress

Shafic Kiyaga • 17:16 - 12.03.2023

This agenda item pertains to the "suspension or expulsion of a member association," which has led to speculation that Zimbabwe may be expelled from the international football family.

Zimbabwe's future in international football is under threat as FIFA is set to deliberate on the suspension or expulsion of the country from the international football family during its 73rd World Football Association congress in Kigali, Rwanda on Thursday.

While the rest of the world will be focused on the election of the next FIFA president, the fourth item on the Congress agenda has raised concerns amongst Zimbabwean stakeholders.

This agenda item pertains to the "suspension or expulsion of a member association," which has led to speculation that Zimbabwe may be expelled from the international football family.

Zimbabwe was suspended from FIFA football due to third-party interference in the running of ZIFA, the country's football association.

This suspension has been in place for a full year, with Zimbabwe's football teams barred from international competition, and FIFA withholding all funding to the country.

Zimbabwe's former information minister Jonathan Moyo laid the blame for the country's suspension and possible expulsion on Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry and the Gerald Mlotshwa-led Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) board.

"Word is that Zimbabwe faces expulsion at the forthcoming 75th FIFA Congress to be held at the BK Arena in Kigali," Moyo tweeted.

"Minister Kirsty Coventry and the Sports and Recreation Commission under Gerald Mlotshwa are doing Zimbabwean football an incalculable disservice," his tweet continued.

The suspension of Zimbabwe from the international football family came after the Zifa executive was suspended by the SRC on a litany of charges, which include gross incompetence, failure to account for public funds and sexual abuse of female referees.

While Fifa insists that only the reinstatement of suspended Zifa president Felton Kamambo will lift the suspension, the SRC claims they are no longer in any position to legally reverse their decision since Kamambo was recalled by the Zifa Congress.

The deadlock has left Zimbabwean football facing an uncertain future.

Meanwhile, a PSL insider has cautioned that it is unlikely that the Fifa agenda is specifically targeted at Zimbabwe and that the agenda item on suspension or expulsion of a member association is standard across all confirmed FA congresses and affiliates.

The annual congress brings together all Fifa members, heads of confederations and all Fifa invitees and is chaired by Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

As Zimbabwe awaits the outcome of the Fifa congress, local football stakeholders are calling on the government to urgently address the crisis at Zifa and to ensure that the country's football teams are not permanently expelled from international football.

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