With one match remaining to the end of this season's National Super League, the decision by the Federation has dealt a huge blow to Zoo's hopes of featuring in the 2015 Kenyan Premier League season. Zoo Kericho looked poised for promotion to the Kenyan Premier League as they led the National Super League Zone B table with 47 points but following the Federation's decision, the team now finds itself in third place as Shabana and Kakamega Homeboyz lead the 12-team table with 46 and 45 points respectively.
Amidst accusations of foul play and favourism against it over the matter, FKF has released a statement explaining how it arrived at the decision to dock Zoo Kericho points.
According to the statement, FKF claims that towards the end of the season, the FKF secretariat and the fixtures secretaries conducts a forensic audit of all match reports in order to ensure that the teams being promoted are without any unjustified claims from other teams.
The statement further read;
It is in this routine forensic audit that the secretariat established the following violation of the rules by Zoo Kericho F.C.It was established through the referees and match commissioners reports that Zoo Kericho F.C. fielded an ineligible player, Michael Otieno of Licence Number KNO-5136, who had accumulated three yellow cards that were picked during the following matches.
(a). Kakamega Homeboyz F.C vs Zoo Kericho played at Bukhungu Stadium on 19th April 2014, the player received a yellow card in the 49th minute.
(b). Zoo Kericho vs Agrochemicals F.C played at Kericho Green Stadium on 26th April 2014, the player received a yellow card in the 5th minute.
(c). Shabana F.C vs Zoo Kericho played at the Gusii Stadium on 3rd May 2014, the player received a yellow card in the 83rd minute.
Arising from the three accumulated yellow cards the player was supposed to miss the next match against Agrochemicals but according to the referees report from that match the player was fielded hence violating Rule 15 (a) of the FKF rules.
We wish to point out that the aggrieved club, Agro-Chemicals, indeed filed a protest on the fielding of the player on the same match day.
The matter was brought before the National Leagues and Competitions Committee (NLCC) and the anomaly was registered.
As per the rules a defaulting club shall lose the match on a 3 points 2-0 basis notwithstanding other penalties the N.L.C.C might impose.
We also wish to inform all clubs that the ongoing audit is targeted to all clubs taking part in our leagues and clubs found out to have violated the rules will also face sanctions.
Zoo Kericho had won the match in dispute 2-1.