FIFA investigates misconduct complaint involving Zambia Women’s World Cup team
ZURICH (AP) — FIFA confirmed it’s investigating a grievance of alleged misconduct associated to the Zambia staff which performed on the Women’s World Cup.
On Thursday, British newspaper The Guardian revealed an allegation that Zambia gamers had seen coach Bruce Mwape contact a participant inappropriately throughout a coaching session.
“FIFA takes any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously and has a clear process in place for anyone in football who wants to report an incident,” soccer’s world governing physique mentioned in an e-mailed assertion on Friday.
“We can confirm that a complaint has been received in relation to the Zambian Women’s National team and this is currently being investigated. We cannot provide further details regarding an ongoing investigation for obvious confidentiality reasons.”
Zambia exited the match — its first look on the Women’s World Cup — after the group stage following losses to Spain and Japan and a win over Costa Rica.
The Football Association of Zambia mentioned it had not obtained a grievance however would act if it obtained a grievance or proof of wrongdoing.
“We wish to state the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has not received any such complaint from any of the players or officials in the delegation that travelled to the World Cup. It has therefore come as a surprise for us to hear of such alleged misconduct by the coach as reported in the said online publication,” FAZ basic secretary Reuben Kamanga mentioned in a press release on the FAZ’s social media.
Kamanga added that the FAZ “would not hesitate to take disciplinary measures and act on any misconduct once we are in receipt of an official complaint or when presented with evidence pertaining to an alleged incident.”
Before the match, there was beforehand an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse in Zambian ladies’s soccer by coaches and officers. At the time, the Zambia FA and police confirmed an investigation into allegations however declined to call anybody implicated. Those allegations have been additionally referred to FIFA, in line with the FAZ.
At a press convention earlier than Zambia’s match towards Spain, Spanish reporters referred to allegations towards Mwape particularly, and the coach mentioned he wouldn’t take into account resigning based mostly on “rumors.”
Mwape didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark despatched through the Zambian federation on Friday.
