Sports / Soccer
FIFA watching 'fraudulent' Zifa
26 Jun 2016 at 09:53hrs | Views
FIFA is closely monitoring the Zifa dissolution saga but will not be taking any further steps until the matter has been finalised by the court.
There have been fears that the controversy surrounding the dissolution of ZIFA and the subsequent establishment of the National Football Association of Zimbabwe (NAFAZ) could jeopardize the country's standing as a member of the FIFA family.
However, the world soccer governing body's media relations manager Segolen Valentin last week told The Sunday Mail that Fifa will wait for all due process to conclude.
"FIFA has been informed about the ongoing process in Zimbabwe," he said in a written response to questions emailed to Zurich. "However, before considering any further steps, FIFA awaits official confirmation that the liquidation of Zifa and the establishment of Nafaz have been duly and correctly carried out.
"It has to be done in accordance with the applicable laws of Zimbabwe and that ZIFA has been deregistered and NAFAZ registered by the relevant authority as the sole entity organizing and supervising football in Zimbabwe," read the response.
Nafaz is yet to be registered with the Sports and Recreation Commission and neither has Zifa been deregistered by the same authority.
Zimbabwe's Sports and Recreation Commission has described the purported dissolution of Zifa as seemingly fraudulent and in violation of the soccer governing body's constitution.
The country's football leaders met at Zifa Village on June 4 and overwhelmingly voted to dissolve the body before creating the National Football Association of Zimbabwe (Nafaz) a few hours later.
However, that day may go down in local football history as one full of drama but little substance. SRC acting director-general Joseph Muchechetere said the country's supreme sports body would not endorse the process which gave birth to Nafaz.
"The SRC is there to safeguard national interests and we cannot be seen giving our blessings to a seemingly fraudulent process," he said.
There have been fears that the controversy surrounding the dissolution of ZIFA and the subsequent establishment of the National Football Association of Zimbabwe (NAFAZ) could jeopardize the country's standing as a member of the FIFA family.
However, the world soccer governing body's media relations manager Segolen Valentin last week told The Sunday Mail that Fifa will wait for all due process to conclude.
"FIFA has been informed about the ongoing process in Zimbabwe," he said in a written response to questions emailed to Zurich. "However, before considering any further steps, FIFA awaits official confirmation that the liquidation of Zifa and the establishment of Nafaz have been duly and correctly carried out.
"It has to be done in accordance with the applicable laws of Zimbabwe and that ZIFA has been deregistered and NAFAZ registered by the relevant authority as the sole entity organizing and supervising football in Zimbabwe," read the response.
Zimbabwe's Sports and Recreation Commission has described the purported dissolution of Zifa as seemingly fraudulent and in violation of the soccer governing body's constitution.
The country's football leaders met at Zifa Village on June 4 and overwhelmingly voted to dissolve the body before creating the National Football Association of Zimbabwe (Nafaz) a few hours later.
However, that day may go down in local football history as one full of drama but little substance. SRC acting director-general Joseph Muchechetere said the country's supreme sports body would not endorse the process which gave birth to Nafaz.
"The SRC is there to safeguard national interests and we cannot be seen giving our blessings to a seemingly fraudulent process," he said.
Source - Sunday Mail