SOCCER: Fifa lift ban on Kenya football after Caf report

Kenya is back on the international football scene. World soccer governing body, Fifa, yesterday conditionally lifted the ban imposed on the Kenya Football Federation last October.

A Fifa emergency committee meeting in Zurich decided to return Kenya to the international fold following recommendations of the Africa Football Confederation.

The decision now means Harambee Stars can continue their 2008 African Nations Cup qualifying campaign. The next round of matches are between March 23 and 25.

Kenya are also now assured of participating in the 2010 World Cup whose draw for the preliminary round matches will be held in Durban, South Africa in November.

“Our top clubs and top players can finally look forward again to testing themselves and competing in international competitions,” acting KFF chairman Mohammed Hatimy said.

A Fifa delegation will visit Nairobi from Wednesday to Friday to help in normalising the football situation in the country.

According to a press statement issued by the world soccer body, the delegation will review the Goal project, look at ways of introducing a transparent financial management system for the KFF and assisting the Kenya Premier League amongst other things.

“Fifa will then lay down a road map for the normalisation of Kenyan football, which is to include the convening of a general assembly and the amendment of the KFF statutes,” the Fifa statement said.

Hatimy welcomed Fifa’s actions saying: “I and my KFF colleagues look forward to welcoming and hosting the Fifa delegation next week. Together with our friends in Fifa we will discuss these initiatives and start charting a new way forward for reviving and rapidly improving Kenyan football.”

Fifa suspended Kenya on October 24 last year because of failure by the KFF to adhere to agreements reached in Cairo in January of that year.

Wrangles between KFF officials and disagreements amongst clubs on how many team were to be relegated and promoted led to the emergence of two parallel national leagues. The government later intervened by disbanding the federation but a court order nullified that decision.

Legitimate body

The government vowed not to recognise the federation which in turn insisted they were the legitimate body to run football in the country. Clubs meanwhile were split down the middle on who to supported throwing the game into chaos

With warnings from Fifa that the Kenya ban could be extended beyond 2010, Sports Minister Maina Kamanda initiated a meeting with CAF president Issa Hayatou last month.

The result was two CAF executive committee members coming to Kenya to help solve the crisis. Their recommendation following commitments made by the Government and the KFF led to the lifting of the ban yesterday.

The KFF has already issued fixtures for a unified league and has called 18 clubs for a meeting today to harmonise the operations of Kenya’s top football league and discuss the Cairo agreements.