SUN SPORTS writes
THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has insisted that former executive committee, Blackwell Siwale remains banned from football and have expressed dismay at comments issued in two daily newspapers, on 8 July 2020, commented on the 10-day ultimatum given by FIFA.
In a statement issued by FAZ communication manager Sydney Mungala, the association highlighted that Siwale was not affiliated to any football body and that the FIFA ultimatum was given following the breach of FIFA statute 59(1) (2) (3) on Obligations relating to dispute resolution.
“It should be noted that Mr Siwale was expelled by the FAZ council at the AGM in March 2017 for failure to account for funds collected by himself and expelled vice President Richard Kazala on behalf of the association without authorisation,” the statement reads.
“Mr Siwale was given the opportunity to exculpate himself before the FAZ council meeting and further given the opportunity to present his defence through the Court of Arbitration for Sport but failed to do so.
“The association regrets that despite his expulsion, which remains final, Mr Siwale continues to constantly portray himself as a stakeholder in Zambian football and makes press statements to certain media companies that, inexplicably, continue to give him a platform despite his expulsion and ban from all football activities.
In articles carried by the Times of Zambia and the Daily Nation, Siwale made comments regarding the 10-day ultimatum given by FIFA over the cessation of court actions against the Football Association of Zambia.
“The constant interference by unaffiliated and expelled former members of the association has been the cause for much of the turbulence that has rocked Zambian football in the current term of the FAZ executive and has resulted in FIFA seeking to restore order to Zambian football,” the FAZ statement reads.
“Whilst the Football Association of Zambia welcomes dialogue, we are perturbed that Siwale is seeking to be pardoned by FAZ with the matter of the unaccounted funds still unresolved,” said Mungala.
