FIFA slaps ex-ZIFA official with ban over sexual harassment
In a rather embarrassing revelation, FIFA has slapped former Zimbabwe Football Association [ZIFA] referees committee secretary-general Obert Zhoya with a five-year ban from all football activities after he was found guilty of sexually harassing and intimidating three female referees.
Zhoya was also fined a hefty R 350 000 [US$20 000] by the FIFA adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee. In a statement, FIFA said the former referee breached articles 23 and 25 of the Code of Ethics.
“The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has banned Mr Obert Zhoya, former secretary general of the referee’s committee of the Zimbabwe Football Association [Zifa], from all football-related activities for a duration of five years after having found him guilty of abusing his position to sexually harass three female Zifa referees.
“Upon careful analysis of the written statements of the victims as well as the various evidence collected during the investigations conducted by the investigatory chamber, the adjudicatory chamber was comfortably satisfied that Mr Zhoya had breached art. 23 (Protection of physical and mental integrity), art. 25 (Abuse of position) and, by corollary, art. 13 (General duties) of the Code of Ethics,” reads the statement.
Zhoya left his post at ZIFA in April this year when the investigations of his case reached a crescendo.
The sexual harassment case against him was reported in September 2020, but formal investigations were launched in December 2021.
The Confederation of African Football and the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations also played a part in the probe.
The ban comes at a time Zimbabwean football stakeholders are at loggerheads as a result of the suspension from international football that was attracted by the incessant feuding between the football association and the government arm, the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC).
Sexual harassment is one of the allegations that the SRC laid against the Felton Kamambo-led executive whom they removed from office last year.