FIFA has indefinitely suspended Zimbabwe from all football activities over allegations of government interference in the administration of the local federation.
In a letter to the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA), FIFA said it took the decision after exhausting all channels to have the country’s Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) rescind its November 2021 decision to suspend the ZIFA board over bribery and sexual harassment allegations.
“The FIFA Council decided to suspend ZIFA with immediate effect due to flagrant violations of the FIFA Statutes,” the letter read.
As a result, ZIFA “loses all its membership rights as of 24 February 2022 until further notice,” the football governing body said.
“ZIFA representative and club teams are, therefore, no longer entitled to take part in international competitions until the suspension is lifted.”
This also means that neither the ZIFA nor any of its members or officials would benefit from any development programmes, courses or training from FIFA or the Confederation of African Football.
According to FIFA, the suspension would only be lifted if the SRC reinstates the ZIFA board led by Falton Kamambo.
JN/APA