The world football governing body, Fifa have expelled Zimbabwe from taking part in the 2018 World Cup qualifying due to their failure to pay their former coach, Jose Claudinei Georgini.
FIFA said in a statement it had taken the action “as a result of the non-payment of an outstanding debt”. adding that Zimbabwe’s Football Association (Zifa) failed to make the payments despite a grace period.
The African zone qualifiers are due to kick off in October, with the draw to be made in St Petersburg in July. Zimbabwe have never qualified for the World Cup.
Brazilian Georgini, nicknamed Valinhos, managed the national team from January to November 2008. He has been owed money since and Zifa was first ordered by Fifa in 2012 to pay him.
Zifa is in dire financial trouble, with debts of more than US$4m, and was recently forced to auction assets from its Fifa-financed training centre to settle a legal dispute with a former employee.
Source#Nigerianbulletin#
