Photo: FIFA

FIFA suspends Kenya, Zimbabwe over interference

The Fédération of International Football Association has suspended Kenyan and Zimbabwean football federations due to government interference.

This was contained in a statement by FIFA on Thursday.

“Without prejudice to investigations by national authorities or other judiciary bodies, the FIFA Council has decided to suspend the Kenya Football Federation and the Zimbabwe Football Federation with immediate effect for undue influence by a third party,” part of the statement read.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino later gave more details on the reasons for the suspensions, referring at a press conference to “government interference in the activities of the football federation”.

“They know what needs to be done for the suspension to be lifted,” he added.

Kenya’s Ministry of Sports suspended the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) in November 2021 and appointed a caretaker committee that took charge of soccer activities in the country.

In Zimbabwe, the country’s federation was suspended by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) in November 2021 also. While the government-appointed commission disbanded Zifa, it cited some of the reasons, including alleged sexual harassment of female referees by technical staff and allegations of fraud, as the basis of their action.

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