The world football governing body Fifa has threatened to impose a ban on Kenya following the appointment of a caretaker committee by the Sports Cabinet Secretary Ambasadeur Dr Amina Mohammed to run Kenyan soccer.
In a letter dated November 11th, 2021 addressed to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) General Secretary by the Fifa Member Associations Chief Officer Kenny Jean-Marie, said the move by the government is contrary to Fifa Statutes and principles.
Jean Marie said it is only FIFA, on the basis of well founded information as well as under exceptional circumstances that can order for the dismissal of executive bodies of member associations followed by the appointment of a normalization committee in accordance with Article 8 paragraph 2 of FIFA Statutes.
“Therefore we kindly ask you to inform the Cabinet Secretary that in the event her decision to appoint a FKF Caretaker Committee and correlated secretariat was to be upheld, we would have no other choice than to submit the present matter to the Bureau of Fifa Council for consideration and decision,” said the officer.
On Thursday, November 11th, 2021 morning, the CS received an audit report from Sports Registrar Rose Wasike leading to the disbandment and formation of a Caretaker Committee.
“All Fifa member associations including FKF, are statutorily required to manage their own affairs independently and without undue influence of any third parties in accordance to Article 14 paragraph 1 and Article 19 paragraph 1 of the Fifa Statutes,” said Jean Marie.
Jean-Marie said any failure of these obligations may lead to sanctions provided for in the Fifa Statutes, even if the third party influence was not the fault of the member association concerned in regad to Article 14 paragraph 3 of Fifa Statutes.
“In esse, we consider that the aforementioned decision by the Cabinet Secretary to appoint a FKF Caretaker Committee in lieu of the elected FKF Executive Committee is undoubtedly contrary to the above principles,” said the letter in part.
Jean Marie warned:”Should this be considered as undue interference in the internal affairs of the FKF, it could lead to a ban imposed on the FKF by the competent FIFA body.:
He said the implications of a FIFA ban are dire in that Kenyan football would suffer the consequences, and not just the individuals directly involved in the undue interference.
The officer in reference to a letter the Sports Cabinet Secretary wrote to Fifa dated 18 October, 2021, Jean-Marie expressed FIFA’s willingness to hold a meeting with FKF and Ministry of Sports as soon as possible to address any concerns by both sides to iron out issues for the sake of Kenyan football.
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