Zoo FC expelled from FKFPL

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) on Tuesday 4 May expelled Zoo FC from the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) due to match-fixing.

A letter seen by Mozzart Sport from FIFA dated Tuesday 4 May confirmed the decision after the world football governing body concluded their investigations on the match-fixing allegations surrounding Zoo and found them culpable.

“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 expulsed 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,” read the FIFA letter in part.

The judgement ends the Kericho based outfit's four-year stay in top-flight football and will from next season ply their trade in the Football Kenya Federation Division One.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has also ordered Zoo FC to contact FIFA in the next 30 days and implement a prevention plan as an educational directive designed to prevent and combat the manipulation of football matches and competitions.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) responded to the letter from FIFA by issuing a communiqué to the Zoo FC chairman confirming the expulsion. 

“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,” read a section of the letter from FKF. 

Zoo FC endured a torrid start to the campaign going 11 games without a win before beating Vihiga United which to date remains their only victory and were rooted to the bottom of the standings.