World football body FIFA has suspended its annual $1.2m grant to the Sierra Leone FA until after an investigation into corruption allegations are completed by the government.
Football Sierra Leone understands today that following the visit by the FIFA Secretary General to Sierra Leone over the weekend, the world body agrees with the ministry of sports and the FA to allow the anti-corruption commission to come out with its findings before the grant is released.
FIFA will also wait for the FA to publish its audited reports before the grant is deposited in their account.
Samoura, who met with government officials in Freetown and Africa’s only female football association president, Isha Johansen has called for transparency in the game, adding that as the country gets $1.2 million annually from FIFA for developing football, it should be used accordingly.
In a visit that ended on Saturday, Samoura also talked about FIFA’s new anti-corruption drive, urging the nation’s governing football body to be transparent and settle their differences with rival members as one family.
In September, it would be recalled that SLFA president Isha Johansen was detained and questioned for alleged mismanagement of funds received by the SLFA since February, by Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). She was later released without charge.
Fifa recognises the role of the government to facilitate the dialogue and support the SLFA in resolving the on-going impasse.
The match-fixing issue of 15 suspended national players and officials to be dealt with in accordance with the SLFA and FIFA status, as FIFA hold zero tolerance policy to match-fixing.
At a meeting which was aimed at restoring peace, It’s was also agreed that Congress be conducted in a free and fair manner in accordance with the SLFA statute and integrity checks for potential SLFA delegates were decided.
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