Feud exposes BFA to FIFA ban
Mqondisi Dube | Saturday January 13, 2024 06:00
On Monday, the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare wrote to the BFA through the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) requesting for a meeting to get detailed insight into the BFL crisis. However, the BFA rebuffed the minister’s approach indicating the matter was before a judicial body, the Arbitration Tribunal.
In what is turning out to be a bare-knuckled fight between the government and BFA, the ministry issued a thin-veiled threat to the association in a public statement on Wednesday. While the statement said the minister wanted to have a full appreciation of the situation, it accused the BFA of refusing to account by failing to honour the meeting invitation.
'For now, the ministry would not want to believe that any of the structures that are beneficiaries of the “social contract” between the government and the citizens only want to account when it suits them. The sovereignty and obligations of the State should not be trifled with,' the ministry said. Further, the statement threatened unspecified steps “in the coming days.” “Government, through the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture will, in the next few days, summon the BNSC to discuss a way forward in dealing with a matter where an affiliate of theirs funded by government chooses how they should relate with the same government.' But asked to clarify on the course of action, the ministry’s permanent secretary, Kitso Kemoeng said the minister only wanted to get a full understanding of the BFL crisis.
“The minister, as an elder and bona fide representative of government in matters of sport (among others), called the BFA to a meeting through the BNSC, as is protocol. On the same note, the minister ordered the BNSC to facilitate the attendance of the BFL at the same meeting; both of them to be led by the BNSC as the statutory mother body of sport in the country,” Kemoeng said in response to a MmegiSport inquiry yesterday. “The minister invited the parties to the meeting to better appreciate the topical matter between the BFA and the BFL that has the potential to disrupt national football activities,” he added.
He said the minister was concerned with the disruption of football at First and Premier League divisions as major employers in sport. “Disruption of football activities does not only deprive the citizenry of entertainment for what it was intended, but also puts the jobs of the hundreds employed by the sport at risk. Unemployment is no doubt a government concern which, in part, government continues to address through grants and sponsorship to sport, including football,” Kemoeng, a former BFA chief executive officer said. He said Rakgare had no intention to interfere, but instead wanted to offer advise where possible.
“The purpose of the meeting was simply for the minister to appreciate things in better detail and where permissible offer his counsel as an elder without attempting to usurp the duties of any organ,” he said. Kemoeng said the BFA has regular access to the minister’s office and this has never been seen as interference. He further denied that Rakgare was interfering in a matter before a judicial body. “There was never an intention by the minister to play the role of any structure or tribunal created for addressing and resolving any grievances. The meeting was simply for the minister’s better appreciation of issues from all parties and, where permissible, proffer counsel,” he said. “It should be common course that ministers be informed of issues in the areas they have been appointed to oversee, such that they are ready to account to principal structures at all times whenever they are called upon to do so,” Kemoeng added.
However, the BFA in a response to Rakgare through the BNSC on Wednesday made it clear that the minister’s involvement could lead to a violation of FIFA statutes. FIFA does not allow government interference in the running of football. In the letter, Mfolo reminds Rakgare that FIFA, through Article 19 of the governing body’s statutes, indicates that member associations should run their business independently “without undue influence from third parties.” Mfolo said the minister would be duly updated on developments as and when necessary, particularly after the conclusion of the judicial process.
“We understand and appreciate the potential risk and repercussions associated with non-compliance. The recent suspension of the Namibian Football Association and the Zimbabwe Football Association serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences such actions can have on football within our country,” Mfolo wrote to the minister. “Our intention is not to appear uncooperative; however it is critical that we operate within the framework of FIFA statutes to maintain our standing as a member association.” The BFL crisis has reportedly further driven a wedge between the ministry and the BFA, amid reports the association’s president, Maclean Letshwiti and Rakgare do not see eye-to-eye.