Local football faces FIFA red card
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Thursday June 19, 2014 15:22
FIFA has said that its investigations have revealed that the tournaments are outside the control and supervision of the Botswana Football Association (BFA) contrary to regulations.
BFA president, Tebogo Sebego told journalists in Gaborone yesterday that they have been given up to September 22 to resolve the matter or Botswana will be expelled from FIFA and CAF sanctioned tournaments.
He said FIFA said its investigations revealed that the constituency tournaments are causing severe damage to BFA sanctioned competitions and Botswana football in general.
He said one of the fundamental responsibilities of all FIFA members is to control and supervise football in all its forms at national level, which is not the case with constituency tournaments. He said FIFA statutes stipulate that all leagues and football groups must be subordinate to and recognised by BFA.
FIFA has therefore concluded that the tournaments are operating parallel to the BFA football pyramid and appear to be in violation of football statutes.
Sebego said that FIFA has instructed that constituency tournaments be brought under the control and supervision of the BFA by September 22 when the matter will be presented to the FIFA Statutes Committee.
“We are informed that any referral could result in punitive action being taken against the BFA which could result in the association losing its membership rights,” he explained. Failure to comply could see the BFA losing rights to take part in the FIFA Congress, nominating candidates for FIFA presidency, taking part in competitions organised by FIFA, as well as taking part in FIFA’s assistance and development programme among others. Sebego said they have already informed the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture about the new development and the letter from FIFA.
“The minister is in possession of a copy of the letter and it is anticipated that he will convey its contents to the President. Pursuant upon such, we anticipate a full and frank discussion with government to take this matter forward for the benefit of football,” he said.
Sebego hopes that the matter is concluded as soon as possible to avoid disaster. His wish is that the government will allow BFA to run the constituency tournaments.
He said the two man FIFA delegation of Ashford Mamelodi and James that investigated the tournaments met several BFA regional officials and the acting Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Vincent Seretse.
“This matter has been discussed on a number of occasions and this is the opportunity to conclude it once and for all,” Sebego said.
Whatever the case, he stated that the BFA and the government have to find a solution before September. “The compliance that FIFA talks about is not that the tournaments have to end by September.
FIFA wants us to have a proper plan of action over the matter by then and we are in a situation where we cannot delay any further,” he added.
Close to 70,000 people have taken part in the controversial tournaments, which were started by President Ian Khama.