The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has been penalised by FIFA after the Mighty Warriors boycotted the second leg of the second round tie of the African Women’s Olympic Qualifiers against Zambia which had been scheduled for the National Sports Stadium on September 1.
Reports indicate that several clubs refused to release their players after it emerged that ZIFA had reneged on its promise to pay them their allowances.
In a statement, FIFA said that Zimbabwe lost the match 0-3 to Zambia by forfeit and ordered the former to pay 10000 CHF (Swiss Franc). The statement reads:
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee found the Zimbabwe Football Association responsible for the infringement of the relevant provisions of the Regulations for the Olympic Football Tournaments Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020 related to withdrawal (art. 7 par. 1) and of the FIFA Disciplinary Code related to unplayed matches and abandonment (art. 14).
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee declares the match of the Women’s Olympic Qualifiers that was scheduled to be played between Zimbabwe and Zambia on 1 September 2019 to be lost by forfeit by Zimbabwe (0-3).
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee orders the Zimbabwe Football Association to pay a fine to the amount of CHF 10,000.
In the application of art. 6 par. 1 a) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the Zimbabwe Football Association is warned on its future conduct.
The above fine is to be paid within thirty (30) days of notification of the present decision.