Kenyan Premier League (KPL) has blamed the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) “unilateral” move to expand the topflight for Supersport’s decision to terminate its broadcast contract.
Supersport earlier today ended its 10-year partnership with the KPL for breach of license agreement by the league body.
The pay television giants cited a Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) ruling, which subordinated KPL’s authority to run the league to FKF contrary to earlier held position that the KPL is the only body recorgnised by FIFA to run and administer professional football in Kenya.
“That the ruling by the SDT subordinates your (KPL) authority to run the Kenyan Premier League to the Football Kenya Federation,” the Supersport letter reads in part.
However in a rejoinder, Jack Oguda, KPL’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is pointing fingers at the FKF whom they accuse of among others repeatedly failing to respect the rule of law.
“The main bone of contention was the populist political campaign promise of the new FKF president (Nick Mwendwa) to unilaterally increase the KPL from 16 to 18 teams.
“But the real issue was not league size but who decides league size. The FKF president’s determination to do so unilaterally was a blatant violation of the spirit and letter of the FKF-KPL agreement.
“The biggest problem and threat to stability in Kenyan football has been the repeated failures of the new FKF officials to respect the rule of law and previous agreements and, in particular, the 2015-19 FKF-KPL agreement signed on September 24, 2015.
The agreement midwifed by representatives from FIFA and CAF gave a roadmap to expansion of the KPL which was to be observed by both parties.
FKF will hold a pressor tomorrow (Saturday 8th) to weigh in on the matter. Sources indicate the FKF President Nick Mwendwa and Supersport officials held a closed door meeting this evening.
