FIFA lifts 18-month ban against Zimbabwe

FIFA (Fédération internationale de football association), an international governing body of association football, has lifted a ban against Zimbabwe from participating in international tournaments.

Kirsty Coventry, the Minister of Sport, Arts and Recreation of Zimbabwe, said that FIFA lifted the 18-month ban against Zimbabwe. 

During a press conference in Harare, the Capital of Zimbabwe, she said that FIFA lifted the ban on Monday. She described the end of the suspension as “exciting” and “incredible” at the press conference. Zimbabwe welcomed the suspension of FIFA’s ban on the country’s football association. 

In 2022, FIFA suspended the national team of Zimbabwe from international competitions, citing major issues with the respective national football governing body. 

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The Sports and Recreation Commission of Zimbabwe suspended the Zimbabwean FA after many sexual harassment and fraud allegations were filed against its office bearers. FIFA banned Zimbabwe after the country’s Sport and Recreation Commission, a government-run body, refused to stop controlling the Zimbabwe Football Association. Zimbabwe was allowed to compete at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon, a Central African country. 

The Zimbabwe Government’s Sports and Recreation Commission suspended the Zimbabwe Football Association because of allegations of sexual harassment of female referees by technical staff. FIFA also banned former ZIFA secretary general Obert Zhoya who was found guilty of sexually harassing women.

FIFA established a temporary Normalisation Committee to run the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) for a year. After the suspension of the ban, Zimbabwe will be allowed to participate in the African qualification tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Zimbabwe team never reached the FIFA World Cup finals but the Zimbabwe women’s team qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.