Drama is expected to unfold in Lusaka Zambia this Saturday morning over two related but contrasting programmes.

While a court in Lusaka has ordered a halt of a scheduled Annual General Meeting, FIFA, according to a media release by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has threatened sanctions should the gathering fail to hold.

According to Sydney Mungala, the Communication Manager of FAZ, “FIFA has directed FAZ to go ahead with Saturday’s AGM in respect of its statutes with failure to do so attracting possible sanctions from Zurich.”

The AGM is scheduled for Government Complex on Saturday morning with councilors already in Lusaka for the highly anticipated meeting.

The press statement however indicated that FAZ officials will also make appearance at the court same day.

 The statement reads:

“The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) wishes to inform its membership and stakeholders that it has made an application in the High Court for the discharge of an injunction obtained by two non-members seeking to halt Saturday’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

“FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga says Football House had not deviated from its long-held reputation of being law abiding by also respecting the laws of the land through following the due process.

“Following an application by our lawyers for the discharge of the exparte (one sided) injunction obtained by two non-members, our lawyers did apply for the discharge of the order and the hearing has been set for Saturday morning,” says Reuben Kamanga, FAZ General Secretary.

The statement continues: “We are a law-abiding organization and fully comply with football rules as prescribed by FIFA and the laws of the land. We will be at the High Court where the inter-parte hearing will be held as prescribed by the court.”

Kamanga adds: “We urge our members to remain calm amidst these turbulences preceding tomorrow’s (Saturday) AGM. We will keep our members informed at every stage.”

The unfolding drama was precipitated by the arrest of FAZ president, Andrew Kamanga on account of money laundering. Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission alleged that Kamanga obtained government funds under false pretences.

Meanwhile, in a letter addressed to the FAZ General Secretary by FIFA and signed by Kenny Jean-Marie, the Chief Member Associations Officer, the world football governing body remarked that it was studying with great concerns, the unfolding events in Zambia.

It often happens in Africa -government taking over the running of football, but FIFA reacts promptly with actual ban or threat.

Now the Spanish government on Thursday announced the creation of a special committee to oversee the country’s football federation (RFEF) until the governing body holds new elections.

The decision was taken “in response to the crisis in the organisation and in defence of the general interest of Spain”. the National Sports Council (CSD), which is the government agency responsible for sport, said in a statement.

The move followed months of scandals including a corruption investigation and an unsolicited kiss from former RFEF chief Luis Rubiales to player Jenni Hermoso during the on-pitch awards ceremony after Spain’s women’s World Cup triumph in Sydney.

“The Spanish government has taken this decision in order to correct the serious situation that the RFEF is going through and to allow the organisation to begin a period of regeneration,” the CSD said.

“This Commission for Supervision, Normalisation and Representation will be headed by independent persons of recognised prestige.”

Spain is trying to move on from the issues within the RFEF as it gears up to co-host the 2030 World Cup.

FIFA and UEFA say they are closely monitoring the situation with great concern. FIFA regulations state that members shall manage their affairs independently and without influence from third parties.

“FIFA and UEFA will seek additional information to assess the extent to which the CSD’s appointment of the so-called ‘Supervision, Normalisation and Representation Commission’ may affect the RFEF’s obligation to manage its affairs independently and without undue government interference,” they said in a joint statement.

Investigations over a multi-million euro corruption probe during Rubiales’ tenure led to other RFEF executives being fired after police raided the organisation’s headquarters in Madrid last month.

Rocha, who was acting as RFEF stand-in president and hoped to be anointed permanently, was placed under investigation by a judge this month after testifying as a witness in court. He was the sole candidate to succeed Rubiales.

Rocha said on April 16 he had “no knowledge nor, therefore, any responsibility for the facts that are being investigated”.

An apartment belonging to Rubiales was also raided as part of an investigation into the alleged corruption.

Rubiales was banned on Oct. 30 by world soccer’s governing body FIFA for three years from all football-related activities following the kiss, which was done allegedly without consent.

The CSD also postponed until Tuesday a decision on whether to take action in relation to disciplinary proceedings opened against Rocha on which the Administrative Court of Sport (TAD)will rule in the coming weeks.

The RFEF said in a statement this month that the TAD case was not related to the corruption probe but rather whether the federation overstepped its duties after Rubiales resigned.

Rocha’s office said in a statement this month that the irregularities in TAD’s case would be challenged.

The president of the Football Association of Zambia (Faz) has been arrested and charged with money laundering offences.

The country’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) alleges that Andrew Kamanga obtained government funds under false pretences and was part of a conspiracy to defraud.

The DEC says the 57-year-old used the money to fund trips for two associates to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast earlier this year.

Madalitso Kamanga and Jairous Siame – the two individuals who travelled to the tournament as part of Faz’s support staff – have also been charged, along with Faz general secretary Reuben Kamanga.

An investigation revealed that neither Madalitso Kamanga nor Siame held official or executive positions within Faz.

The quartet are alleged to have acted together to obtain 341,902 Zambian kwacha ($13,150 £10,580) from the government for expenses and a further 99,980 kwacha ($3,850 £3,095) for return flights to Ivory Coast.

The DEC says the fraudulent activity occurred between 1 January and 15 February, coinciding with the Nations Cup finals where Zambia exited at the group stage.

An Faz spokesperson said Andrew Kamanga’s arrest was “part of a long-term plan to bring [into] question” his reputation ahead of the governing body’s elections next year.

Faz is set to hold its annual general meeting in Lusaka this weekend and the spokesperson added that the position of the organisation’s president was not under threat.

“There is no immediate risk of Mr Kamanga being out of Faz because this is just an arrest and the matter has to go to court – if at all there is any merit,” they said.

A DEC statement added that the suspects are “finalising bond processes” and “will appear in court soon”.

-BBC