BFA slaps Taylor with a third charge
Chakalisa Dube | Monday January 31, 2022 16:00
Taylor appeared for her disciplinary hearing (to answer for the initial charges) on Thursday. The hearing was reportedly postponed to today (Monday) in order to allow the association to serve Taylor with some of the missing documents.
Insiders have said the hearing will most likely be postponed again today because the association is still working on the documents demanded by the suspended CEO. However, on Friday she was slapped with a third charge. In the latest charge she is accused of behaving in a disorderly manner during one of the Orange FA Cup clashes late last year.
“On the 4th of December 2021, as the host, you arrived during the second half of the game of the Orange FA Cup semi-final games played at the National Stadium Gaborone, and displayed a disorderly conduct in front of the sponsor and our guests, an act which brought the name of the association into disrepute,” reads the third charge against the suspended CEO. Sources have labelled the third charge as nothing but a tactic to frustrate Taylor. The CEO refused to shed light on her third charge stating that her suspension means that she cannot talk to media.
Meanwhile, on her two initial counts, Taylor is being accused of carelessly spending FIFA project funds contrary to the FIFA Forward regulations 2.0, resulting in loss of reputation and the potential to lose FIFA financial support.
The first count relates to FIFA funds amounting to P6 million,which were meant for women’s football projects and COVID-19 relief funds but were diverted to other BFA operations.
The second offence relates to non-compliance with standard procedures.
The particulars of the second offence are that from April to December last year Taylor authorised the procurement of goods and services, outside the budget approved by the BFA General Assembly, resulting in a debt of more than P2 million. Sources said Taylor faces the sack, with a 'decision already made'. But reports are that some members of the NEC disapprove of the hearing because a FIFA investigation into the matter is yet to be completed
Taylor was slapped with a suspension letter in December with BFA saying she is being investigated for irregular utilisation of association funds. She is before a disciplinary panel chaired by Leviet Ntwaagae, which also has Lore Morapedi and Tshepo Phiri.
There are reports that Taylor is being made a scapegoat. A delegation from FIFA was recently in the country to investigate the misuse of funds and is expected to issue its findings soon.