Sports

Fifa to ratify Kenya’s suspension

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022 11:44 | By
Fifa president Gianni Infantino. PD/FILE

Kenya’s suspension from all football activities is set to be ratified on March 31 during the world football governing body Fifa’s congress meeting in Qatar.

People Sport has learnt about the intended action from a top Confederation of African Football (CAF) official who has been in constant discussions with Fifa over the issue in Kenya and Zimbabwe after the two countries were suspended indefinitely due to government interference.

“Kenya and Zimbabwe’s suspensions will be ratified at the Fifa congress meeting on March 31 to be held in Qatar.

Unless they meet all the requirements given by the global body to enable them to lift the sanctions before then,” said the official who sought anonymity.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed suspended the entire FKF secretariat and executive members on November 12 citing miss appropriation of funds and also ordered for the locking of the secretariat offices, which is against the Fifa statutes.

On February 24, Fifa president Gianni Infantino during a council meeting said that the council had found Kenya and Zimbabwe’s issues to be a clear case of undue interference by a third party.

“Therefore, based on article 14 paragraphs 1 and 3 of the FIFA Statutes - as well as article 16 paragraph 1, under which the FIFA Council may, without a vote of the Congress, temporarily suspend with immediate effect a member association that seriously violates its obligations, the Fifa Council decided to suspend the FKF with immediate effect due to flagrant violations of the FIFA Statutes,” Infantino said.

Membership rights

Fifa Secretary General Fatma Samoura went ahead to write to all its member associations informing them about the developments indicating that the action meant that FKF loses all its membership rights, as defined in article 13 of the FIFA Statutes, with immediate effect and until further notice. She added: “FKF representative and club teams are also therefore no longer entitled to take part in international competitions until the suspension is lifted.

This also means that neither the FKF nor any of its members or officials may benefit from any development programmes, courses or training from FIFA and/or CAF. Moreover, we remind you and your affiliates not to enter into any sporting contact with the FKF and/or its teams while the FKF is suspended. Finally, the Bureau of the FIFA Council or the FIFA Council may lift this suspension at any time before the next FIFA Congress takes place.”

Sports CS Mohamed has remained adamant since the suspension and in her response to Fifa’s move, she made it clear that the government would not change its stand.

She said the decision by the Kenyan Government last year to disband FKF fully adhered to the Laws of Kenya and maintained the move followed a legally prescribed process and had a defined roadmap.

“The decision was taken after it became crystal clear that how FKF was managing Kenya’s football growth and development was unsustainable and untenable,” Amina said.

She added: “The lack of accountability for monies entrusted to it by the government and people of Kenya was raised with FKF on many occasions to no avail. We tried on many occasions to bring the matter which had festered for long to the attention of FIFA with no success.”

“FIFA however, still expects the same governments and stakeholders to fund football with no transparency and accountability in total disregard for national laws, institutions, values and practices,” Amina stated.

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