FOOTBALL House has claimed the legal battle against former Chipolopolo trainer Aljosa Asanovic is still active, months after FIFA ruled in favour of the Croat. 

In August, FIFA ruled that the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) pay Asanovic US$ 1.1 million for wrongful dismissal eight months into his four-year-long deal as Chipolopolo coach. 

However, FAZ appealed the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). 

On Wednesday, it emerged that FAZ has lost the appeal.

Investigative journalist Augustine Mukoka reported that CAS has sided with the Croatian. 

What’s FAZ’s response?

FAZ general secretary Rueben Kamanga has rebuffed Mukoka’s report in a statement revealed by communications manager Sydney Mungala. 

“We did appeal the ruling by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to CAS,” read the statement. “And throughout this process, we have been liaising closely with our legal team to ensure that justice prevails in this matter.

“Matters of a legal nature require some level of prudence. As it stands, the process is taking place, and the case is still being developed from all sides. We are far away from any decisions being made right now, and any suggestion otherwise is fundamentally inaccurate. FAZ will duly update the public as the case progresses,” Kamanga said. 

Asanovic was appointed Chipolopolo coach in January last year. He replaced Beston Chambeshi, who served as interim coach following the departure of Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic. 

The Croat was decorated with a four-year-long contract but only served eight months of the agreement following souring relations with the Association. 

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FAZ has maintained that they do not owe Asanovic a dime as he abandoned his duties before he announced that he had unilaterally terminated his contract with Zambia on September 22, 2022.

Asanovic was replaced by Avram Grant who has fit the Chipolopolo job like hand to glove.