Fifa relegates Zoo FC from FKF Premier League over match fixing

Zoo FC have been relegated from the Football Kenya Federation Premier League after being found guilty of match manipulation by world football governing body Fifa and the team will now play in the third tier from the 2021/22 season.

With the UEFA Champions League (UCL) 2020-21 is down to its final four, Real Madrid welcome Chelsea to the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano while Paris Saint-Germain meet with Manchester City at the Parc des Princes for the first leg of the semi-finals.

In a letter to the club through the federation, signed by the Fifa Disciplinary Committee Chairman Alejandro, the Kericho-based side will now play in the third tier from the 2021/22 season.

“The Fifa Disciplinary Committee finds the club Zoo FC responsible for activities related to manipulation of football matches and competitions. The club Zoo FC is hereby expelled from the Kenyan Premier League Season 2020/2021 as of the date of notification of the present decision. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee hereby orders the relegation of the first team of the club Zoo FC to the FKF Division One for the next season. The Fifa Disciplinary Committee orders the club Zoo FC to contact FIFA in the next 30 days from the notification of this decision and implement a prevention plan as an educational directive designed to prevent and combat the manipulation of football matches and competitions. We wish to inform you that we are in receipt of correspondence from Fifa dated May 4, 2021, with regard to a Fifa disciplinary Committee ruling against your club on grounds of manipulation of football matches and competition. Regrettably, in view of the aforementioned decision and in accordance with FKF’s obligation to Fifa statutes, the federation has expulsed your club from the 2020/2021 FKF Premier League season and relegated Zoo FC to the FKF Division One League for the season 2021/2022.“

UEFA has given the green light for a 36-team Champions League reform which will include a single league format to replace the group stage amid reports of a rival Super League formation which could see 12 of the biggest clubs on the continent breakaway.