Fifa demotes Kenyan soccer team Zoo FC after match-fixing allegations

Fifa demotes Zoo FC after match-fixing charges

JOHANNESBURG, May 5 (ANA) – The Federation of International Football Associations (Fifa) on Tuesday demoted Kenyan Premier League side Zoo FC to division one after the club was found guilty of match-fixing.

“The Fifa Disciplinary Committee finds the club Zoo FC responsible for activities related to manipulation of football matches and competitions….the club Zoo FC is hereby expulsed from the Kenyan Premier League season 2020/21 as the date of notification of the present decision,” said Fifa Disciplinary Committee in a letter signed by its chairman Alejandro Piera.

“The Fifa Disciplinary Committee hereby orders the relegation of the first team of the club Zoo FC to the FKF [Football Kenya Federation] Division One for the next season.”

The FKF informed Zoo FC of the decision in a letter saying: “We wish to inform you that we are receipt of correspondence from Fifa dated May 4, 2021…with regard to a Fifa disciplinary Committee ruling against your club on grounds of manipulation of football matches and competitions.

“In view of the aforementioned decision, FKF has expelled your club from the 2020/2021 FKF Premier League season and relegated Zoo FC to the FKF Division One League for the season 2021/2022,” said FKF Secretary General Barry Otieno.

Zoo FC coach Herman Iswekha said his side will not simply accept the decision: “Our chairman has assured us that he will be appealing the decision.The allegations are not true and maybe this involves politics between us and the federation,” he said.

“I have been in charge of these players who majorly come from the neighbouring schools. I can attest that the team has never engaged in any match-fixing.” – African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Michael Sherman