FIFA has confirmed that it will not intervene in the ongoing legal dispute that is preventing the Football Association of Zambia’s (FAZ) Elective General Meeting from taking place today in Livingstone.
In a dramatic turn of events, the High Court of Zambia issued an interim injunction restraining the FAZ from proceeding with its scheduled elections. The ruling, delivered on Friday, effectively halted the FAZ Electoral Process.
The case, filed by Humphry Mwape Musonda in his capacity as General Secretary of Damiano Academy Football Club, named FAZ President Andrew Kamanga and FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga as the first and second defendants, respectively. The Sports Council of Zambia was also cited as a third defendant in the matter.
The plaintiff argued that FAZ’s leadership had overstayed its term and that the electoral process lacked transparency.
Gelson Fernandez, FIFA’s Deputy Chief of Member Associations, expressed disappointment with the situation and stated that a report will be submitted on the matter in due course.
He also warned that the consequences, which may include a ban, are very likely.
FIFA Senior Member Association Governance Manager Ahmed Harraz also said: “The situation will be assessed, the reports will be submitted internally. There is an injunction stopping the AGM from taking place after almost all the delegates have arrived after the FIFA, CAF, and COSAFA delegation has arrived, which we believe the decision, maybe it was taken a bit too fast without taking into consideration the consequence even financially on the federation and on the members of FAZ.”
Nothing changes, No AGM
And FAZ Secretary General Kamanga in his latest briefing has told the delegates that the elections will not take place as there has been no communication from the court following the injunction.
“We don’t have any information to the contrary. So unfortunately, as we indicated yesterday, FIFA as well have confirmed they are actually going to the airport as we speak,” Kamanga said. “There is no indication that this meeting will take place. So, I thought I should just make it very official to you that we have not started anything to start the process of having a meeting because there is no action that has come from the court on the two actions that were taken against the association. So I thought I should give you this brief that unfortunately at this point the AGM will not be taking place. Thank you.”
Earlier this month, FIFA issued a strong warning to the FAZ following a proposal from the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) regarding the establishment of a transitional committee, an independent electoral committee, and a comprehensive review of the electoral process.
In a letter to FAZ General Secretary Kamanga, FIFA highlighted concerns that such directives by the NSCZ could violate the organization’s statutes, potentially leading to sanctions, including suspension.
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