World football governing body, FIFA has announced the suspension of Kenya and Zimbabwe for what the body described as government interference in football matters.
FIFA President, Gianni Infantino made this decision public this at a press conference on Thursday which was monitored by Africa Daily News, New York.
Kenya’s Ministry of Sports in November 2021, suspended the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and appointed a caretaker committee to take charge of soccer activities in the country.
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In Zimbabwe, the country’s federation was also suspended by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) in November 2021.
‘We had to suspend two of our members; Kenya and Zimbabwe, both for government interference in the activities of football associations. The associations are suspended with immediate effect,’ Infantino said.
‘They know what needs to be done for them to be readmitted or for their suspensions to be lifted.’
Africa Daily News, New York reports that this was coming less than two weeks after FIFA announced a ban on four Argentina players who play in the Premier League clubs, after last September’s abandoned 2022 World Cup qualifying game against Brazil.
Africa Daily News, New York recalls that back then in September, the match was brought to a halt by medical officials a few minutes after it kicked off, with COVID-19 restrictions at the time being cited.
The Aston Villa duo of Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia, as well as Tottenham’s Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso – who joined Villarreal on loan in January, were accused by the government of providing false information in relation to their immigration forms and COVID-19 declarations.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
