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Multimedia:Asiagate bans stay — Zifa

Sport
THE Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) has broken its silence on the Asiagate match-fixing scandal

THE Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) has broken its silence on the Asiagate match-fixing scandal, maintaining the bans imposed on players and officials found guilty will remain in force.

Report by Sports Correspondent

Media reports had last week suggested world soccer governing body Fifa had refused to endorse the sanctions on the players, arguing due process was not followed and that Zifa had not done enough to convince Fifa to give the sanctions a worldwide effect.

Zifa president Cuthbert Dube rubbished the reports yesterday and said Fifa was still to make a decision on the Asiagate scandal.

“The Zimbabwe Football Association would like to advise the whole country that Fifa communicates directly with member associations through formal channels and vice versa, but not through ‘special correspondents’. The Zimbabwe Football Association would like to authoritatively state that we are yet to receive a letter said to have been delivered to Zifa Head Office on Thursday 28th March 2013, according to an article attributed to a ‘special correspondent’ of a local daily newspaper.

“Zifa is aware of the machinations and ulterior motives of some people who would like to reverse the gains of our resolute crusade against match-fixing and illegal betting. We are also aware that the same people would like football in this country to be ungovernable as long as they are not in power. Individuals bent on causing alarm and despondency should brace for the full weight of the football statutes.

“Zifa cannot allow football to continue to be sacrificed on the altar of self-enrichment and greed. Individuals who sold the soul of Zimbabwean football at the Match-Fixing and Illegal Betting ‘Stock Exchange’ in Asia and elsewhere between 2007 and 2010, should face the consequences,” wrote Dube.

The Zifa boss added: “Please be advised that Fifa have confirmed that quote ‘I can confirm that what appeared on Zimbabwe’s media is pure speculation. No decision has been made on Zifa’s Asiagate sanctions’.”

He said the Fifa decision was likely to be made sometime this month or next month and that the Zifa sanctions would remain unchanged.

“In the meantime, Zifa reserves its right to take legal action against mischief-makers where deemed necessary. The Zifa Board will be meeting next week to discuss finality around the Asiagate scandal,” said Dube.

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