The Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League's attempt to transform itself into a 22-team league by suspending relegation for the 2025 season was thwarted by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA).
The ridiculous move plunged the Premiership into an elite Social League on November 18 when the top-flight’s board of governors defied all logic, violated their constitution and smuggled a resolution to increase the number of teams from 18 to 22.
It was a decision conceived in hell and decided on by teams facing relegation in collusion with a few whose safety has been guaranteed.
Zifa swiftly rejected the PSL's proposal, citing procedural impropriety and emphasizing that promotion and relegation are fundamental components of football competition.
The association insisted that any changes to the league structure must follow due process and be ratified by the ZIFA Congress.
Yet the PSL's decision was made despite some member clubs having a clear conflict of interest, with teams facing relegation participating in the decision-making process.
This means PSL chairman Isiah Mupfurutsa and the governors he leads were in violation of Article 35.3 of the PSL statutes.
That article states that:
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“Any member of the Congress must withdraw from the debate and from taking a decision if there is any risk or possibility of a conflict of interests’’.
Instead Mupfurutsa allowed Yadah Stars chairman Everson Chatambudza to lead discussion on the relegation along with eight other affected clubs when they should have not been part of the deliberations.
The other culprits include Dynamos, Highlanders, Chicken Inn, already relegated Kwekwe United, Manica Diamonds, Bikita Minerals and GreenFuel.
All these teams saw and latched onto an opportunity to avoid relegation without having t0 fight on the battlefield.
Article 7 of the same statutes is also clear on the objectives of the league and reminds members that their conduct is guided by ZIFA, FIFA, CAF which are the superior bodies.
“…. Conduct of bodies and Officials The bodies and Officials of PSL must observe the Statutes, regulations, directives, decisions and the Code of Ethics of ZIFA, of CAF/COSAFA and of FIFA in their activities’’ reads Article 7.
Yet the PSL in their wisdom or lack of it, sought to also increase the size of the ZIFA Congress by their decision as every club is a member of that Congress.
PSL currently have 19 seats on the Congress made up of 18 clubs and the head of the PSL secretariat.
As such the PSL would need the ratification of the ZIFA Congress on their proposal to increase the size of the league, a bid which the association rejected on the grounds of procedural impropriety and directed that it be sent to Congress for deliberation.
Zifa were however, unequivocal in stressing that relation and promotion are fundamentals of any football league in the organized game and competition.
This Zifa, said would enhance the principles of Fair Play as espoused by FIFA.
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