Chronicle Editor
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Zimbabwe Football Association Referees’ Committee secretary-general, Obert Zhoya has been handed a five-year ban from all football activities by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) after he was found guilty of abusing his position to sexually harass female referees.
On top of the five-year ban, Zhoya has also been fined CHF 20 000 by Fifa’s adjudicatory chamber.
In the statement, the world football governing body said it found Zhoya guilty.
“The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has banned Mr Obert Zhoya, former secretary-general of the Referees Committee of the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) from all football-related activities for a duration of five years after having found him guilty of abusing his position to sexually harass three female Zifa referees. In addition, the adjudicatory chamber imposed a fine amounting to CHF 20 000 on Mr Zhoya,” said Fifa.
“Upon careful analysis of the written statements of the victims as well as the various evidence collected during the investigations conducted by the investigatory chamber, the adjudicatory chamber was comfortably satisfied that Mr Zhoya had breached article. 23 (Protection of physical and mental integrity), article. 25 (Abuse of position) and, by corollary, article. 13 (General duties) of the Code of Ethics,” added the world football governing body.
According to Fifa, the decision was communicated to Zhoya yesterday.
“Fifa has a strict stance against all forms of abuse in football and the Ethics Committee handles all such cases in line with the Code of Ethics, taking into account the specificity of each. Fifa also provides a confidential, dedicated, highly secure and web-based whistle-blowing system so that individuals can report any safeguarding concerns,” concluded the statement from Fifa.
The allegations against Zhoya came to light in 2020 when female referees made accusations that he had sexually harassed them on the pretext that they would be promoted or be assigned more matches than others.
In suspending the Felton Kamambo-led Zifa board in November last year, the Sports and Recreation Commission accused the association’s leadership of turning a blind eye on sexual harassment of female referees.
Former Zifa board member, Bryton Malandule is also accused of sexual harassment and the case is being handled by Fifa. — Follow on Twitter @Mdawini_29
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