Kenya flirt with FIFA ban over election challenge

by Staff Reporter

Friday Oct 25, 2019. 12:00

FIFA have threatened the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) with suspension over pending court cases that have been lodged to stop the organisation’s presidential elections set for next month.

Two separate parties have filed court papers to halt the elections, which is considered third-party interference by FIFA and would likely lead to a suspension for the country if they are successful, throwing into doubt their participation in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

“The aforementioned articles is in line with one of FIFA’s core principles, that is, the prohibition of recourse to ordinary courts of law, unless specifically foreseen by FIFA regulations or binding legal provisions,” a letter from FIFA Acting Chief Member Associations officer Veron Mosengo-Omba to FKF read.

“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, including a possible suspension.”

Current FKF boss Nick Mwendwa says they are aware that they are flirting with a ban, but says they can do nothing until either the cases are withdrawn, or their outcome is known.

“If the courts rule that the elections should be stopped, then that is a FIFA ban coming and we will not travel to Egypt to play our first 2021 AFCON qualifier. This is the same thing that happened in Sierra Leone. For us, we will just inform FIFA of whatever outcomes the courts have,” he told Capital Sport.

The cases have been brought by former FKF president Sam Nyamweya and Moses Akaranga, who are disputing the make-up of the electoral board, as well as the eligibility regulations placed on potential candidates.

Incumbent Mwendwa is the only candidate in the running for the president’s seat at the moment, though Nyamweya and Akaranga will likely enter if they get the elections halted and the entrance criteria changed.