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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
WHILE the domestic football fraternity is battling to recover from the expulsion of the 2018 World Cup, Zimbabwe have been punished by FIFA for failing to fulfil their Women’s Olympic Games qualifier fixture against Cote d’Ivoire on July 19. ZIFA failed to raise $34 000 that was needed to cater for the trip to West Africa.

The domestic football association have turned themselves into the bad boys of world football, attracting sanctions with each passing month for various transgressions.

The Mighty Warriors started their campaign in the second round after receiving a bye in the opening matches and they beat Zambia on away goals rule.

However, they could not fulfil their match against Cote d’Ivoire after the national football association failed to get the required money for the trip.

And yesterday FIFA announced that they have sanctioned Zimbabwe over the issue with the match being awarded to Cote d’Ivoire on a 3-0 scoreline.

According to FIFA regulations for the Olympic Football Tournaments Games of the XXXI Olympiad Rio de Janeiro section 7 article 5, any Association that withdraws after the start of the preliminary competition shall be fined CHF 10 000.

And in a statement released yesterday by FIFA, Zimbabwe have to pay a CHF 10 000 (US$10 385) fine.

“The qualifying match for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Rio 2016 that was scheduled for 19 July 2015 between Côte d’Ivoire and Zimbabwe has been declared a 3-0 forfeit victory for Côte d’Ivoire.

“FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings after Zimbabwe failed to travel to Côte d’Ivoire for the match, which was the first leg of the third round of Olympic qualifiers for the African zone.

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee decided that the match should be forfeited, in accordance with art. 31 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and ordered the Zimbabwe Football Association to pay a fine of CHF 10,000 after being found to be liable for the violation of art. 6 par. 1, art. 6 par. 3 e), art. 7 par. 1, and art. 7 par. 10 of the Regulations for the Olympic Football Tournaments

“The relevant parties were notified of the decision on Wednesday 29 July,” read the statement.

ZIFA spokesperson, Xolisani Gwesela, yesterday said they will act in line with the international football body’s decision.

“FIFA’s decision is final. As you are aware FIFA is our mother body, we have received the statement and we would like to confirm that as An association we would adhere to their decision. We will act in line with FIFA,” said Gwesela.

The latest development will not help Zimbabwe’s situation as it adds on to the negative image in football that continues to haunt the local game.

The Olympic Games qualifiers will see the two winning teams in the fourth round earning the tickets to compete in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro at the Olympic Games next year.

Zimbabwe’s football teams have never qualified for the Games.