Fifa congress upholds Zim, Sri Lanka suspensions

Zim Now Writer

The ongoing 73rd Fifa Congress in Kigali, Rwanda, which brought together close to 2 000 delegates, including top football executives from the world soccer governing body, upheld the suspension of Zimbabwe from international football activities while Sri Lanka was restricted from voting at the congress.

Out of the 211 associations, 199 member associations voted in favour of a motion to suspend Zimbabwe while 197 voted for the restriction of Sri Lanka from voting during Fifa elections.

The Fifa Congress is the supreme legislative body of Fifa, brings together top executives from Fifa, confederations and representatives from 211 member associations and other football stakeholders.

Fifa suspended Zimbabwe over government interference in the affairs of football after the Sports and Recreation Commission suspended the Zimbabwe Football Association over accusations of corruption, incompetence and sexual abuse.

On the other hand, the Football Federation of Sri Lanka was suspended over political interference after the federation’s presidential elections fell short of Zurich’s standards.

Reports say the country’s Ministry of Sports introduced a raft of regulations that reportedly compromised the autonomy and independence of national sports bodies, including the FFSL.

The Congress, which the host country’s President, Paul Kagame attended, was chaired by Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

The agenda included the suspension or expulsion of a member association, presentation of Fifa’s annual report during which member association will vote on approval of the consolidated financial statements for 2022 and off the Fifa statutory financial statements for 2022 before voting on approval of the cycle budget for 2023-2026 and the detailed budget for 2024.

The Fifa elections, in which incumbent Infantino is the sole candidate for the top position, will take place during the congress.

Infantino is likely to be re-elected for another, and possibly final, four-year term that could see him stay in office until 2027 if he gets to win member associations’ vote of confidence.