Kenya and Zimbabwe reject FIFA’s suspension of their federations

Kenya and Zimbabwe rejected this week the decision of the FIFA to suspend their soccer federations for “government interference” and accused her of ignoring information about alleged cases of corruption and sexual abuse in these organizations.

The Kenyan Minister of Sports, Amina Mohamedassured today in a statement collected by local media that FIFA did not listen to his warnings of possible corrupt practices in the Kenya Football Federation (FKF).

World soccer’s governing body showed great “reluctance” to “work with the government to (…) universal principles of accountability and transparency,” he said. Mohamed .

“We tried many times without success to draw FIFA’s attention to the matter that had become entrenched,” said the minister, referring to alleged corrupt practices by the FKF.

In the middle of last November, Mohamed dismantled the FKF and ordered the investigation of a possible embezzlement of funds, putting the Federation under the responsibility of an interim committee, a measure that aroused the concern of the FIFA.

Also in November, the president of Kenyan football, Nick Mwendwa, was arrested twice and indicted on corruption charges for appropriating 38 million Kenyan shillings (close to 300,000 euros) of public funds, according to local media reports at the time.

“The decision of the Government of Kenya on November 11, 2021 to dissolve the FKF fully adheres to the laws of Kenya (…) was taken when it became clear that the way in which the FKF was managing the development and growth of football in Kenya was unsustainable,” said Mohamed.

The minister promised to continue “cleaning up” corruption and “implementing accountability systems.”

This Friday also showed its disagreement with the suspension of FIFA the Sports and Recreation Commission of Zimbabwewhich dissolved the country’s football federation (the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA in English) last November for accusations of corruption and sexual abuse.

“It appears that FIFA is forced by the provisions of its own statutes to protect some of the undoubted sexual predators, fraudsters and corrupt administrators at the helm of football administration in Zimbabwe,” the Commission said in a statement. oversees the sports sector in the country.

“Some of these administrators are facing, among others, charges of sexual harassment, bribery, fraud and general corruption in the courts of Zimbabwe”, facts that have been reported to the FIFAthey assure.

This Thursday, the president of the FIFA, Gianni Infantinoannounced the suspension “with immediate effect of any activity related to football” of the federations of Kenya and Zimbabwe for “government interference” and stressed that “they already know” what they have to do “to return to normality”, in reference to the restoration of the organs of power of these organizations.

However, neither of the two countries expressed their willingness to abide by the agency’s demands, but instead stressed that the measures are protected by law.