Why Kenyans are waiting for Fifa’s Disciplinary Committee ruling with bated breath

Harambee Stars coach Adel Amrouche during their Cup of Nation Qualifier match against Comoros at Nyayo stadium, Nairobi on 18-05-2015.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

Kenyans will be waiting with bated breath for today’s decision of Fifa’s Disciplinary Committee on the fate of Kenya after Football Kenya Federation failed to pay former coach Adel Amrouche Sh109 million.

The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) on September 19 last year directed FKF to pay Amrouche the amount as compensation for wrongful dismisal.

FKF had until March 11 to pay the Belgian in full or be referred to the Disciplinary Committee today.

A possible disciplinary measure against FKF is throwing Kenya out of the 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifiers, the same manner Zimbabwe were ejected from the qualification process of the same competition in 2018.

Harambee Stars are in Group E of the Qatar qualifiers alongside Mali, Uganda and Rwanda.

Fifa expelled Zimbabwe from the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers for a similar offence in March 2015 after their FA failed to pay Brazilian coach Jose Claudinei Georgini ‘Valinhos’ his dues.

By yesterday, there was no information as to whether FKF had settled the award to Amrouche.

Outgoing FKF president Nick Mwendwa is on record requesting the government to help the pay the former coach.

However, the government declined to commit itself.

Now Kenya will have to wait for the Fifa Disciplinary Committee’s verdict.

Apart from removing Kenya from World Cup qualifying rounds, Fifa could alternatively divert development fund meant for Kenya to settle Amrouche’s debt and also institute other disciplinary actions on the federation.

This dispute started way back in 2014 when Amrouche reported FKF to the Fifa’s Players Status Committee after he was sacked without just course.

And on August 29, 2017, the Player Status Committee awarded the former Burundi and Libya coach Sh65 million plus interest, but both parties appealed the decision at CAS-the highest sports court.

On September 19 last year, CAS upheld Amrouchel’s case and awarded him 86.25 million in compensation, salaries owed plus interest which rose to Sh109 million.

FKF’s appeal was dismissed.