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FKF set for Fifa face off


Football Kenya Federation (FKF) risks incurring the wrath of the sport’s world governing body Fifa, following revelations the local body may have gone against the “terms of engagement” in the ongoing talks over the structure and composition of the premier league.

This development became apparent in the content of a letter from Fifa’s Secretary General Jerome Valcke, who says he is “surprised” on learning the local FA was not “acting in good faith” by withholding crucial correspondence from other stakeholders during the talks, contrary to a directive from the Zurich based body.

FKF, Fifa and the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Ltd are engaged in a tripartite talks on the 2015 league.

The said letter, dated Zurich 23 January 2015, SG|tre|jaj, with the subject “Independent Expert Consultant report” reads in part, “following a request by FKF and KPL on 19 December 2014, FIFA agreed, in good faith, to make available an independent expert consultant…. who was sent (to Nairobi) on January 12-14 to meet all concerned parties and later sent a report including recommendations sent to your office on January 20, 2015, with request to to disseminate the report to all the concerned parties.”

“In view of the above, we kindly inform you of our expectation that FKF will make available the independent expert consultants report immediately available to all concerned parties and without further delay” the letter addressed to FKF Chairman Sam Nyamweya, reads in part.

This development has fuelled speculation the Federation might be headed for the losing side in the battle with KPL on its proposal to increase the number of teams in the competition from 16 to 18.

Further rounds of talks between representatives from FKF and KPL, alongside a meeting involving the FA’s National Executive Committee (NEC), are planned in the next few days with view to discussing the “recommendations” and arriving at a common ground.