Fifa playing foul?

By Gilbert Wandera

Football governing body Fifa came under attack from participants during a public forum dubbed Foul Play that was called to discuss the crisis of football management in the country.

Participants, however, did not offer anything new in terms of the way forward during the forum, snubbed by both Football Kenya, Kenya Football Federation (KFF) and Sports Ministry officials.

While speaking on Fifa’s role in the reform of football management, Dr Migai Akech accused the governing body of going against its rules when dealing with governments and its affiliates.

Akech specifically accused Fifa of applying double standards in recognising FKL.

"The whole process of recognising FKL was done without due regard to the rules of Fifa, which ignored its rules requiring an association to have been a provisional member for two years before being recognised," he said.

He also insisted that Fifa’s argument that Kenya Football Federation (KFF) had been transformed into FKL as unworkable, pointing out that there is no law in the country allowing such a transformation.

Prime Minister

He also took issue with Fifa for using a letter by the Prime Minister Raila Odinga as a basis for recognising FKL, pointing out that the PM is not an authority on such matters.

Akech said Fifa’s insistence its members should not seek the intervention of courts whenever they are aggrieved is also unfair.

"While it is good that they offer arbitration, sometimes you need to go to court for its enforcement and Fifa should allow this," he said.

Another speaker Dr Othieno Nyanjom expressed fear that most of the stadia built in South Africa before this year’s World Cup may end up as white elephants, giving no economic value to the people in that country.

Not invited

Mathare United chairman Bob Munro in his presentation enumerated the challenges they have gone through to bring change in local football.

There were different reactions to the attack on Fifa.

FKL chairman Mohammed Hatimy said Fifa followed its rules regarding recognition of the body that he heads.

"Let those people saying otherwise to read and understand Fifa statutes which support their stand," he said. Asked why he did not attend the forum, Hatimy said he was not invited.

KFF chairman Sam Nyamweya said the position taken at the forum was the right one, and that is why they have sought a review of the ruling taken by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

"This is what we have always stood for and we are encouraged that others can see it this way also. We will continue to soldier on until justice is done," he said.

The only politician at the forum was nominated MP Rachel Shebesh.