Kenyan federation says has acted on FIFA threat

NAIROBI, Sep 28 (Reuters) Kenyan soccer chiefs said today they had implemented FIFA recommendations on how to run the sport in the east African country, after being told to sort out the chaos or face sanctions.

Kenya was threatened with suspension from all soccer activity at FIFA's annual congress in Marrakesh in October 2005 because of government involvement in running the sport.

Three months later at a meeting in Cairo, FIFA, the Kenya Football Federation (KFF) and the African Confederation drew up a 28-point memorandum, which included setting up an independent company to run the league.

KFF chairman, Alfred Sambu, told FIFA president Sepp Blatter that the only remaining issues were administrative matters related to both KFF and FIFA.

''KFF has implemented all the recommendations agreed on in Cairo.

These were recommendations because they had to be ratified by the (KFF) National Executive Council,'' he said in a letter to Blatter, obtained by Reuters.

Blatter wrote to Sambu last week and gave Kenya up to October 18 to sort out the problem or face unspecified sanctions.

The country's top football leagues are divided down the middle, with nine taking part in a parallel league started two weeks ago by the Kenya Premier League Limited (KPL), and 11 remaining with KFF PL Limited, which started last Saturday.

Sambu blamed KPL for the chaos. KPL has insisted it was given the task of running the league by the Cairo agreement.

''It was clear that KPL would run the Premier League for 2005/2006 season only. This was necessary to give KFF time to de-register KPL and register a new company KFF PL in accordance with the Cairo Agreement,'' he said.

He added that a committee set up to investigate alleged financial mis-management would soon release its findings.

Sambu said he was seeking Blatter's help in dealing with KPL officials, who he accused of insubordination.

''They have gone ahead, in defiance of KFF authority, to form a parallel league. Mr President, this is unacceptable and I need your support,'' he said.

REUTERS BDP KP2327