Government to meet Yanga, Simba SC over derby controversy today
What you need to know:
- Yanga are said to have filed a case with CAS following the decision of TPLB and TFF to postpone the March 8 duel at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, contrary to the rules and regulations.
Dar es Salaam. The Minister for Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, will today convene a meeting with leaders of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB), and Young Africans (Yanga) to resolve the ongoing dispute over the postponement of their Mainland Premier League clash against Simba.
The meeting is scheduled for this morning, according to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Gerson Msigwa.
Msigwa said that all officials from Yanga, TFF, and TPLB have been notified and confirmed to attend the meeting.
“The meeting will be held as scheduled, and all officials have been informed and confirmed to attend. The venue of the meeting remains confidential,” said Msigwa.
As football stakeholders await the outcome of the meeting, renowned advocate Aloyce Komba has warned that the decisions from this meeting must be announced with great care and in accordance with the rules of football in the country.
Komba said that it is a good idea for Minister Kabudi to call the meeting to resolve the current confusion, but caution must be taken to protect the interests of football in the country and comply with world football governing body (FIFA)’s regulations.
“The Minister, through the National Sports Council (NSC), is the primary authority overseeing sports in the country, including football. It is clear that the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) is registered with the NSC through the registrar of associations and sports bodies; however, FIFA regulations are clear, and the decisions from this meeting should not conflict with these regulations,” said Komba.
“There are two key issues to consider in this meeting. First, it is a decision-making meeting if Yanga have not taken the matter to CAS. If Yanga have not taken the matter to CAS, the meeting can make decisions, which, in my opinion, should be announced by TFF or TPLB.
If Yanga state that they have already submitted the issue to CAS, the meeting will have no authority to discuss the matter and must await CAS’s decision. This issue is therefore tricky,” said Komba.
He clarified that FIFA has made it clear that all cases or complaints must be handled by its designated bodies and not otherwise.
Yanga are said to have filed a case with CAS following the decision of TPLB and TFF to postpone the March 8 duel at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, contrary to the rules and regulations.
TPLB issued an official statement citing Simba’s concerns and invoking Section 34.1 (1.3) of the regulations, which allows for postponements under emergency circumstances.
Yanga strongly rejected the decision, which has also drawn sharp criticism from football stakeholders, who questioned whether TPLB had followed the proper regulations in making its ruling
