Kenya faces FIFA ban over court cases

Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - World football governing body FIFA is threatening to ban Kenya over current cases in court.

A number football administrators, keen on gunning for posts during the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) elections in December 2019, have gone to court.

They want pending matters in court cleared before the elections are held. These  are former FKF President Sam Nyamweya, and ex-county governor Moses Akharanga. Both are seeking the president's seat.

They have voiced concerns over the composition of the electoral board as well as the regulations for candidates to be allowed to vie.

In the first place,  the settling of FIFA disputes in conventional courts contravenes its statutes, according to global football governors.

''FIFA shall provide the necessary institutional means to resolve any dispute that may arise between or among member associations, confederations, clubs, officials and players,'' FIFA states in one of its statutes.

FIFA said in a letter that according to its statutes, disputes in football cannot be taken to any judicial body outside the Federation and if this happens, then it is deemed as third-party.

In a strongly-worded letter to FKF CEO Barry Otieno, FIFA says it is keenly following up on the happenings in the country after two separate groups filed cases in conventional courts.

The groups  have filed cases at the High Court and Sports Disputes Tribunal seeking to stop the elections.

“We further wish to underline that a violation of this provision by the FKF or its members may lead to sanctions as provided for in the FIFA statutes.

The sanctions may include possible suspension, FIFA said in the letter signed by Veron Mosengo-Omba, the acting Chief Member Associations officer.

-0- PANA DJ/AR 25Oct2019