The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has turned down a request by the Sports and Recreation Commission to dissolve the current ZIFA board.
FIFA argued that replacing the board with an interim committee at SRC’s suggestion was tantamount to interference and would result in the suspension of Zimbabwe from FIFA.
FIFA, however, said that they expect football boards to be accountable and if required submit financial records revealing how public funds were used.
The Sports Commission had written to FIFA requesting the association to dissolve the current ZIFA board which it argued had abused public funds. The SRC had, before writing to FIFA, tried unsuccessfully, to get an explanation from ZIFA as to how funds from FIFA could have ended changing bank accounts.
Part of the letter FIFA, through their deputy secretary-general (administration), Alasdair Bell wrote to the SRC reads:
In this context, we must remind you about the contents of Art. 14 par. 1 let. (i) and Art. 19 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes, which stipulate that all member associations are obliged to manage their affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties.
Therefore, should the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts & Recreation of Zimbabwe, upon recommendation of the Sports and Recreation Committee (SRC), decide to appoint an interim committee to administer the affairs of ZIFA, it would be considered undue influence in the sense of the FIFA Statutes.
Consequently, the matter would be presented to the relevant FIFA bodies for consideration and possible action, which may include the suspension of ZIFA.
More: The Herald