FIFA has sent an official letter to an African nation, threatening to ban them over interference.
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The controversy regarding the election of the Football Association of Zambia's next president seems to be having significant ramifications. The elections for the association's new leader, set to be held on 29 March 2025, have been shrouded in controversy.
The Zambia National Council of Sports (ZNCS) wrote a letter to world football's governing body requesting their intervention in the FAZ elections after four candidates were disqualified from the running, leaving current president Andrew Kamanga unopposed for a third term.
FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer, Elkhan Mammadov, consequently issued a letter to the ZNCS, warning them that should any of the strategies highlighted in the letter sent to them be implemented, the Swiss-based institution would be forced to impose sanctions.
"We would like to remind you that every member association of FIFA is statutorily obliged to manage its affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties, including the government bodies," the letter reads.
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"Any breach of this obligation may lead to sanctions provided for in the FIFA statutes. As a result, should the transitional committee be indeed established, FAZ would be at risk of breaching the above-mentioned statutory provisions. Should this happen, FIFA will have no option but to submit the matter to its relevant decision-making body for consideration and decision, which might also include the suspension of FAZ."
