{"id":218097,"date":"2022-03-02T05:18:02","date_gmt":"2022-03-02T03:18:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/kenya-and-zimbabwe-have-been-suspended-from-world-football-what-happens-next\/"},"modified":"2022-03-02T05:18:02","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T03:18:02","slug":"kenya-and-zimbabwe-have-been-suspended-from-world-football-what-happens-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/kenya-and-zimbabwe-have-been-suspended-from-world-football-what-happens-next\/","title":{"rendered":"Kenya and Zimbabwe have been suspended from world football: what happens next"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kenya and Zimbabwe have both been suspended<\/a> by the world\u2019s football governing body, FIFA<\/a>, owing to government interference in the operations of the national football federations. Nairobi<\/a> and Harare<\/a> dissolved their federations late last year and replaced them with government-appointed officials. The suspension, overshadowed for now by Russia\u2019s dramatic banishment<\/a> from virtually all international sport, will hit the two countries in the pocket and freeze international participation. Sports researcher Wycliffe Njororai Simiyu explains why this is straight from FIFA\u2019s aggressive policy against what it terms \u201cthird-party interference\u201d.<\/em> <\/p>\n

What\u2019s the background?<\/h2>\n

The suspension of Kenya and Zimbabwe was announced<\/a> by FIFA\u2019s president, Gianni Infantino. In Kenya\u2019s case, FIFA\u2019s action comes after sports minister Amina Mohamed dissolved<\/a> the Football Kenya Federation office in November 2021. A caretaker committee headed by retired judge Aaron Ringera was appointed to take charge of football activities in the country. The federation\u2019s president, Nick Mwendwa, was subsequently arrested<\/a> and charged with misappropriation of funds from FIFA and the government. He has pleaded not guilty<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Zimbabwe football federation was similarly dissolved by government in November last year. The decision<\/a> was announced by the country\u2019s Sports and Recreation Commission, a government-appointed body. Federation officials were accused of misappropriating money given to the association by the state for Zimbabwe\u2019s participation at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals. Four federation officials, including the president, are being investigated for mismanagement and lack of accountability in the use of public funds, as well as allegations of sexual harassment<\/a> of female referees. <\/p>\n

The two countries are now locked out of all national FIFA supported personnel development activities for administrators, coaches and referees. They are also barred from international competitions. <\/p>\n

These include all international club and national team competitions under the auspices of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Local leagues can continue but eventual winners would not be entered for CAF competitions until the suspension is lifted. <\/p>\n

According to FIFA, any allegations of administrative malpractices should be investigated internally. Investigations should fall under the local federation by-laws and FIFA stipulations rather than being carried out by government. These internal mechanisms are meant to shield FIFA from any external interference in its operations as a private entity. <\/p>\n

What are the immediate implications for the two countries?<\/h2>\n

Zimbabwe was first to face the consequences of the government\u2019s move. Not only did they play the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations under the threat of expulsion, they also missed out<\/a> on US$500,000 prize money awarded to each of the participating teams.<\/p>\n

Kenya also suffered the consequences before the FIFA decision had been announced. The national women\u2019s team to the Africa Women\u2019s Cup of Nations qualifiers pulled out at the last minute from playing Uganda. The ousted Kenyan federation office wrote to the African federation saying it was unable to prepare for the tie because it had been stripped of its powers by the government and locked out of its offices. <\/p>\n

The Confederation of African Football\u2019s cancellation of the match was a tacit endorsement<\/a> of the dissolved Kenyan administration. It was a clear signal that the government-appointed caretaker office was deemed illegitimate. <\/p>\n

Now that FIFA has formally announced the suspension, further consequences will follow. <\/p>\n