LEAGUE STAND-OFF: FKF now insists four KPL teams will be relegated and six promoted

City Stars' striker Jimmy Bageya dribles the past Victor Majid during their Sportpesa KPL encounter against KCB on Oct. 17, 2015 at Kasarani Stadium [PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) appears to be making overtures to its rebelling clubs after announcing on Tuesday that six teams will be promoted to next year’s top-tier league.

But the move will certainly create problems with Kenyan Premier League (KPL), who have insisted that next year’s league will not have more than the current 16 teams.

The federation, which met on Tuesday, issued a statement saying that the four teams will be relegated from the ongoing league and another six promoted.

FKF’s statement now means Chemelil Sugar, KCB, Nairobi City Stars and Nakuru All Stars will be relegated no matter how they perform in the last match of the season at the weekend.

FKF said the decision to have an 18-team KPL will be implemented next season.

“Regarding the composition of the top-tier league for the 2016 season and beyond, the decisions of the Special General Meeting held in Kakamega on January 30, 2015 and the Third Annual General Meeting held in Nairobi on August 28, 2015 remain in force in the context of determining the number of clubs to be relegated and promoted.

“In this regard, four (4) teams will be relegated from the top-tier league and six (6) promoted from the FKF Premier League to make a league of 18 teams,” FKF said in the statement. The statement appears to go against a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the federation and KPL last month.

KPL Chief Executive Jack Oguda said the MOU between them and FKF clearly states that the KPL will retain the current number of clubs for next season.

“The MOU stipulates that two clubs will be promoted and another two relegated. The statement by FKF therefore goes against the agreement,”he said.

The issue of the MOU was raised by FKF Premier League clubs when they announced that they will boycott matches from last weekend.

The clubs said they cannot continue taking part in a league in which they have no idea how many teams will be promoted.

Regarding the boycott by clubs, FKF reiterated its stand that the teams will face ‘serious sanctions’ on top of being docked points and reminded the clubs that all matters administration and running of the league will be decided by the federation’s executive committee.

“The FKF Premier League, the second-tier league, is a property of the Federation and as such policy, administration and all other decisions affecting it can only be taken by the FKF NEC.

“In view of the aforementioned, member clubs of the FKF PL are advised against being party to decisions that bring the game into disrepute,” the statement added.