Fifa overturns Zimbabwe suspension in time for World Cup qualifiers
Zimbabwe was suspended after perceived government interference in the running of the football association
11 July 2023 - 15:08
by NICK SAID
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Fifa has lifted its 18-month suspension of the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) just days before the draw for the African qualification competition for the 2026 World Cup, officials confirmed on Monday.
An interim normalisation committee has been appointed to run the affairs of Zifa until elections for a new management team are held.
Zimbabwe was suspended by the global governing body in February 2022 after perceived government interference in the running of the troubled football association.
The executive committee of Zifa was ordered dissolved in November 2021 by the country's Sports and Recreation Commission, a government-appointed body, amid allegations that money given to the association by the state for Zimbabwe's participation at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals was misappropriated.
Zimbabwe played in the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but were barred from taking part in the preliminaries for the 2023 Afcon finals in Ivory Coast.
“The bureau of the Fifa council decided to lift the suspension that was imposed on the Zimbabwe Football Association in February 2022 and appoint a normalisation committee with immediate effect,” Fifa confirmed in a statement.
Among their day-to-day duties, the normalisation committee will also “review the Zifa statutes and electoral code to ensure their compliance with the Fifa statutes and requirements, and to ensure their adoption by the Zifa Congress”.
The normalisation committee will be chaired by local administrator Lincoln Mutasa, and must complete its mandate by June 2024.
The draw for the African qualifiers for the next World Cup is to be held at the Caf Congress, which starts in Abidjan on Thursday.
The first round of fixtures will be played in November.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Fifa overturns Zimbabwe suspension in time for World Cup qualifiers
Zimbabwe was suspended after perceived government interference in the running of the football association
Fifa has lifted its 18-month suspension of the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) just days before the draw for the African qualification competition for the 2026 World Cup, officials confirmed on Monday.
An interim normalisation committee has been appointed to run the affairs of Zifa until elections for a new management team are held.
Zimbabwe was suspended by the global governing body in February 2022 after perceived government interference in the running of the troubled football association.
The executive committee of Zifa was ordered dissolved in November 2021 by the country's Sports and Recreation Commission, a government-appointed body, amid allegations that money given to the association by the state for Zimbabwe's participation at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals was misappropriated.
Zimbabwe played in the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but were barred from taking part in the preliminaries for the 2023 Afcon finals in Ivory Coast.
“The bureau of the Fifa council decided to lift the suspension that was imposed on the Zimbabwe Football Association in February 2022 and appoint a normalisation committee with immediate effect,” Fifa confirmed in a statement.
Among their day-to-day duties, the normalisation committee will also “review the Zifa statutes and electoral code to ensure their compliance with the Fifa statutes and requirements, and to ensure their adoption by the Zifa Congress”.
The normalisation committee will be chaired by local administrator Lincoln Mutasa, and must complete its mandate by June 2024.
The draw for the African qualifiers for the next World Cup is to be held at the Caf Congress, which starts in Abidjan on Thursday.
The first round of fixtures will be played in November.
Reuters
Pirates resist calls to snub ‘apartheid Israel’
Former Liverpool star Firmino joins Mosimane’s old club Al-Ahli Saudi
Banyana head for the World Cup with fillips in their pockets
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Postecoglou hoping to present Kane with Spurs’ vision
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.