Kenya to know World Cup fate next month

Former Harambee Stars coach Adel Amrouche.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has set May 18, as the date Adel Amrouche’s compensation case will be resubmitted for evaluation.

This follows the Football Kenya Federation’s failure to pay Sh109 million in compensation, owed to the coach for wrongful dismissal.

Earlier, on March 23, FKF received a decision of the Fifa Disciplinary Committee directing the Federation to pay the former coach in 30 days.

Yesterday’s communique to FKF General Secretary/CEO Barry Otieno noted that the Federation did not make the necessary payment and that the former coach had requested for sanctions on FKF.

“In this regard, we take due note from the content of the abovementioned correspondence that the Football Kenya Federation allegedly did not pay the amounts due to the coach Adel Amrouche within the granted deadline and that the latter therefore requests that further disciplinary sanctions be imposed on the Football Kenya Federation,” read part of the letter.

“In this sense, we kindly inform the parties that, in accordance with point 4. of the decision passed by the Chairman of the Fifa Disciplinary Committee on 23 March 2020, the case will be resubmitted to a member of the Fifa Disciplinary Committee on 18 May 2020 for evaluation in order to decide on harsher sanctions to be imposed on the Football Kenya Federation, which may lead, amongst others, to possible expulsion from FIFA competitions,” continued the letter.

The Fifa Disciplinary Committee, meanwhile, extended an olive branch to FKF to provide its position, and/or proof of payment by April 30, 2020, lest Kenya suffers tougher sanctions.

“In light of the foregoing, the Football Kenya Federation is invited to provide the secretariat to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee with its position, including proof of payment of any outstanding amounts, by 30 April 2020 at the latest. Should the Football Kenya Federation fail to submit a statement within the stipulated deadline, a member of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee will decide on the case using the file in its possession (cf. art. 20 par. 5 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code),” concluded the letter, from FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s Secretariat. [footballkenya.org]