Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Bwalya to appeal Fifa ban for graft
FORMER African Footballer of the Year Kalusha Bwalya, 54, plans to take legal action against the Federation of International Football Associations (Fifa) following his two-year ban from all football activities.
The former Zambian footballer has been banned from the game for two years by Fifa after an investigation into his links to banned Qatari official Mohammed Bin Hammam.
The adjudicatory chamber of Fifa’s ethics committee said yesterday it had banned Bwalya, a member of the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football, for two years from “all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level”.
Fifa said it had been investigating Bwalya since February last year “focused principally on benefits that he received from Bin Hammam”.
“The adjudicatory chamber found Bwalya guilty of having violated article 16 (confidentiality) and article 20 (offering and accepting gifts and other benefits) of the Fifa code of ethics.
“A fine in the amount of 100 000 Swiss francs (R1.4 million) was also imposed on Bwalya,” Fifa said.
“I am surprised and saddened by today’s receipt of the notification from them.
“I have instructed my legal team to immediately appeal this decision urgently and would like to state that I am not guilty of any offence, which allegedly took place.”