Zimbabwe expelled from 2018 Soccer World Cup

Zurich - FIFA has expelled Zimbabwe from 2018 World Cup qualifying for failing to pay its former national team coach.

FIFA's disciplinary committee says it took the action "as a result of the non-payment of an outstanding debt" by Zimbabwe's football federation to coach Jose Claudinei Georgini.

The Brazilian football manager nicknamed Valinhos managed the the Warriors from January to November 2008.

FIFA says Zimbabwe failed to make the payments despite a grace period.

As a result, Zimbabwe has been kicked out of the preliminary qualifying competition for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

ZIFA pleaded with Fifa to be granted more time to resolve the contentious issue of the $60 000 compensation being claimed by former Warriors coach Valinhos through the world soccer governing body.

Fifa had given Zifa time to settle the matter in which Valinhos wants to be paid $60 000, which he claims is his outstanding salary from May to December 2008.

Zifa leadership at some pointe was querying Valinhos' demands, arguing that they had been made to understand that the coach had long been paid by the time they assumed office.

Valinhos was fired by Zifa in November 2008 after he had failed to guide the Warriors to the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola and the first World Cup in Africa which was staged in South Africa between June and July last year.

The Brazilian coach, through his attorney Ana Motta, then sought recourse through Fifa with the world body in turn writing a final letter of demand to Zifa.

Fifa legal counsel in the Players Status department Rolf Tanner, in his letter to Zifa, also gave the local soccer body a chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the dispute between Valinhos and them.

Tanner also sent a dossier to Zifa of all the correspondence that had been going on between Valinhos and the world body as well as a letter of acknowledgement from former Zifa president Wellington Nyatanga in 2008.

Valinhos who was on a $15 000 a month salary was originally owed $120 000, which Nyatanga acknowledged in his letter to the coach dated November 28, 2008. But it is the balance of $60 000 which the coach who managed just one win - a 2-0 triumph over Namibia at home in the 2010 World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign - is demanding from Zifa.

In the performance-related contract of employment signed between Zifa and Valinhos, Nyatanga and Rushwaya represented the association, the Brazilian was given $15 000 as signing on fees. He was then entitled to $15 000 as monthly salary payable on or before the end of the month. Valinhos had also been promised $100 000 as qualifying fee if he had managed to take the Warriors to the Nations Cup in Angola.

The Brazilian could have also pocketed another $250 000 as qualifying fees if he had succeeded in guiding the Warriors to a maiden World Cup final. He however, failed dismally on both fronts and Nyatanga - in terminating his contract - also indicated that Zifa would then seek Fifa's assistance in paying him his dues as the association was "facing financial difficulties". But with Zifa still to settle half the money they acknowledged they owe Valinhos, the coach through his attorney successfully engaged Fifa's support on the matter.