Kalusha Bwalya: FIFA reduce ban of former African Footballer of the Year

Kalusha Bwalya, Zambian legend

FIFA has made a surprise announcement over Zambia’s former African Footballer of the Year, Kalusha Bwalya.

The Football world body has had his two-year ban from all football reduced on appeal six months after the decision was made.

Fifa banned the former Zambia head coach – then a CAF executive committee member after he allegedly ‘accepted a gift’ which violated Fifa’s code of ethics.

It followed an investigation into his links to banned Qatari official Mohammed Bin Hammam, however, the 1988 African footballer of the Year has maintained his innocence throughout.

The decision was made public through a press statement posted on FIFA’s official website.

Bwalya’s ban has been reduced to the time he had already served, while his fine was cut to 10,000 Swiss francs (R140 000) from 100,000 Swiss francs (R1.4m).

“The Fifa Appeal Committee decided to reduce the duration of the ban from taking part in any football-related activity imposed on Mr Bwalya to the period already served at the time of the notification of the present decision.

“As a consequence, the ban imposed on Mr Bwalya ended upon notification of the decision of the Fifa Appeal Committee.”

A former president of the Football Association of Zambia, Bwalya withdrew his candidacy for a Fifa council seat during the investigation.

According to reports, he will now regain his position on the CAF Executive Committee after being cleared of taking a bribe from former president of the Asian Football Confederation, Bin Hammam. – kickoff.com