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Zifa fails to settle $60,000 Valinhos debt
Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
FIFA yesterday expelled Zimbabwe from the 2018 Fifa World Cup over a $60,000 debt owed to former national team coach José Claudinei Georgini, popularly known as Valinhos.
Zifa were officially informed of the decision yesterday, according to the world football motherbody.
The expulsion, Fifa said, follows a decision passed on August 15, 2012 by the single judge of the Fifa Players’ Status Committee.
“The Fifa disciplinary committee today, 12 March 2015, notified the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) that it was expelled from the preliminary competition of the 2018 Fifa World Cup Russia.
“The expulsion comes as a result of the non-payment of an outstanding debt by Zifa to the coach José Claudinei Georgini following a decision passed on 15 August 2012 by the single judge of Fifa’s Players’ Status Committee,” said Fifa.
As the single judge’s decision was final and binding and Zifa did not settle its debt, disciplinary proceedings for failure to respect a decision (in application of Article 64 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code) were opened against Zifa upon the request of the coach.
It emerged also that the beleaguered Cuthbert Dube-led association ignored many Fifa warnings and grace periods, the last being in April 2013 when the world football body gave Zifa a 60-day period to settle half of the debt to Valinhos and a 120-day period for the remainder.
“The Fifa Disciplinary Committee passed a first decision in April 2013, by means of which in particular, and in addition to receiving a fine, Zifa was granted a 60-day period to settle half of its debt to the coach and a 120-day period to settle the remainder of the debt. Zifa was warned that, if they did not pay within the granted periods, the case would — upon the express written request of the creditor — be resubmitted to the Fifa disciplinary committee for the possible imposition of harsher sanctions, which could lead to expulsion from a Fifa competition. Zifa did not appeal the decision.”
The statement further read;
“In view of the fact that Zifa did not settle its debt to the coach, and following the request of the coach, the case was presented again before the Fifa disciplinary committee, which rendered a second decision. In its decision, the Fifa disciplinary committee granted Zifa a final period of grace of 60 days to settle the debt with Georgini. Additionally, Zifa was warned that, if the debt was not settled within the granted period (and upon the presentation of a formal claim by the creditor), then, in addition to the imposition of a fine, they would be expelled from the preliminary competition of the 2018 Fifa World Cup Russia.
“Zifa were informed that the expulsion would be ordered automatically without any further decision needed from the Fifa disciplinary committee and, once more, Zifa did not appeal the decision.”
Fifa said as a result of the national association’s failure to make any payment within the granted periods and requests, it was left with no option but to expel Zifa from the 2018 Fifa World Cup.
The draw for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers will be held on July 25 with the matches kicking off between October 5-13.
The expulsion of the senior national team takes to four Zmbabwean football teams to be banned under the present Zifa leadership.
In 2012 Zifa failed to fulfill the second leg of the Under-17 African Youth Championships qualifier away to Congo, three months after the Under-20 had also failed to travel for the Africa Youth Championships qualifiers in Angola.
During the same year Bulawayo giants Highlanders were banned from participating in Caf competitions after Zifa, without the club’s consent, submitted their name for the continental competition. Bosso are still serving that ban.
Online Reporter