Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kenyans.co.ke
Published on 2024-03-27 11:30:45
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has issued a warning to Kenya, indicating that the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) could face sanctions if it does not proceed with its Annual General Meeting (AGM). In a letter dated March 26, FIFA instructed FKF to hold a meeting and set a date for its elections, emphasizing that any further delays could result in penalties, including a potential suspension.
Initially, FKF had planned to conduct its AGM on March 16, but the meeting was halted by an order from the Mombasa High Court. This interruption came after sports journalist Milton Nyakundi filed a petition questioning the legality of the federation to hold the meeting, prompting the court to intervene one day before the scheduled event.
Following the court’s involvement, the hearing was deemed urgent by Lady Justice Olga Sewe, scheduled for March 18, with the ruling expected on April 4, 2024. FIFA viewed the court’s intervention as third-party interference, stating that it contradicted the football body’s statutes. The global football governing body warned that further interference by external parties in the FKF elections could lead to severe actions against Kenya.
In a stern statement, FIFA highlighted, “Attempt by a third party to prevent the FKF AGM from taking place might be considered a violation of the above-mentioned principle, which would oblige our institution to bring the matter to the attention of the relevant FIFA bodies for consideration of possible sanctions in line with the FIFA Statutes.” The statement reiterated that any infringement of FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) statutes could warrant the suspension of FKF, regardless of the party responsible for the violation.
In a parallel incident in 2022, Kenya was suspended by FIFA, pending compliance with specific directives. FIFA demanded that the government overturn its decision to appoint a caretaker committee to oversee football activities in the country. The global body stated, “Repeal of the Cabinet Secretary’s decision of November 11, 2021, appointing the caretaker committee instead of the elected FKF Executive Committee.”
These developments highlight the critical importance of adhering to FIFA’s regulations and conducting transparent and legitimate processes in football governance. The threat of sanctions underscores the necessity for FKF to address the issues promptly and ensure compliance with the directives to avoid any punitive actions that could impact the country’s footballing status. It remains to be seen how FKF will navigate through these challenges to meet FIFA’s expectations and uphold the integrity of football in Kenya.
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