KFF protests FIFA's move to relegate Coast Stars

KENYA Football Federation (KFF) are protesting a Fifa?s decision confirming the relegation of Coast Stars Fc. The federation?s chairman Mohammed Hatimy has written a  letter to the world body faulting what he terms as disregard of the KFF constitution. Fifa last Friday announced that Coast Stars remain relegated from the Kenya Premier League (KPL) after faulting a decision of the top organ of the federation.

The KFF's Independent and Disciplinary Appeals Tribunal (IDAT) three weeks ruled that Coast Stars be reinstated after awarding the club six points. Hatimy said yesterday they are protesting on behalf of Coast Stars who feel that there was no fairness in Fifa's decision. “We have written to Fifa and are waiting for their response. Coast Stars feel that it was not a fair decision,” he confirmed.
Hatimy said among other issues raised by Coast Stars was that Fifa had ignored sections of the KFF constitution while making the decision. This includes the fact that IDAT's decision cannot be challenged and are binding on all parties. He also announced that he has advised Coast Stars to seek for arbitration instead of taking the matter to court.

Coast Stars official Arif Baghazal threatened last week that his club would sue if KFF does not intervene to see that they get back their place in the league. The Kenya Premier League (KPL) yesterday asked KFF to take action against Coast Stars if they take legal action over the matter.
KPL Managing Director Jack Oguda said such an action would be a clear violation of article 47 of the KFF constitution which state that “recourse to ordinary courts of law is prohibited. Oguda said Coast Star's threat to go to court and stop the league is causing great concern to them. Oguda insisted that Fifa?s decision confirming the relegation of Coast Stars was correct as among other things they had paid the appeal fee past the deadline. “Baghazal is denying that he has admitted in the past to having paid the appeal late. The truth is that KPL has a video capturing him admitting to have paid late,” said Oguda. He asked the KFF to treat the Coast Stars issue the same way they treated Homegrown whose appeal was thrown out after paying the appeal fee late.

"The KFF has done well to treat all clubs equally in the past. This important principle should apply in this case as well,” said Oguda. Oguda said KFF should ask Coast Stars to accept the Fifa decision as this had been agreed upon in a meeting between KPL and federation officials last month. The KPL league kicked off last weekend and is this time enjoying a whooping Sh.400million sponsorship from SuperSport.