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Fifa orders KPL to withdraw case from Sports Disputes Tribunal


Fifa has ordered Football Kenya Federation to facilitate the withdrawal of a case filed by the Kenyan Premier League Limited at the Sports Disputes Tribunal.

The case at the Tribunal is as a result of a three-year-old tussle between FKF and KPL over the number of teams allowed to compete in the top flight football league.

FKF president Nick Mwendwa has openly vouched for the expansion of the competition so as to accommodate 18 teams instead of the current 16 from next year, a decision the KPL doesn’t seem to keen on.

This standoff resulted in KPL filing an injunction at the Tribunal in October, a move that barred the national football body from discussing this matter at its annual general meeting.

But in a letter signed by the world governing body’s newly appointed Secretary General Fatma Samoura on November 8, Fifa has appeared to warn the KPL for dragging its feet over this dispute.

EXPANDED LEAGUE

Samoura also reiterated that the responsibility (and by extension final decision) on how the football competitions should be run in the country is entirely on FKF’s stable.

“We wish to remind you that (our) member associations must engage their affairs independently and without undue interference from third parties. It is therefore important that you remind other members, including the KPL, about said obligations,” Samoura said.

“FKF is responsible for organizing top tier competitions in Kenya and that any Kenyan league is subordinate to the FKF. The KPL does not seem to fulfill the said conditions and we consider that there is an urgent need to conclude an agreement clearly expressing the subordination of the KPL to the FKF,” he further added.

Nzoia Sugar, Kariobangi Sharks, Zoo Kericho and Nakumatt FC are on course to be promoted should the league be expanded to 18 teams.