For the umpteenth time Ethiopian Football Federation elections have been postponed.
The elections were to take place today (Monday) but FIFA recommended that they be pushed back by ten days to 5 January as delegates of the world’s football body would be away for Christmas and New Year festivities.
EFF Electoral Committee has however moved to fix another date on 14 January to give room for Ethiopians who celebrate Christmas on 7 January to also celebrate.
According to sources, FIFA has written back insisting on the 5th as the new date for the much awaited polls even though both the FA and the electoral body refutes receiving such a communication from Zurich.
The elections were initially scheduled for October but FIFA insisted on a proper process, especially on formation of an electoral body, leading to the first postponement.
Meanwhile, candidacy of Dr. Ashebir Woldegiorgis, who is seen as the main challenger of the current president Juneidi Basha, has split the Electoral Committee into two with one faction holding that he is not eligible to vie owing to the fact that he has been the president of the country’s basketball federation up to this year when he resigned.
Ashebir, who has previously served as EFF president, relinquished his seat at the basketball body this year to seek a second stab as the football federation boss a move that has generated heat with some saying it is against EFF rules.
But in a narrow vote, the 12-member Electoral Committee voted to accept his candidacy.
Three States namely Oromia, Amhara and Afar have threatened to boycott the elections if Ashebir will be allowed to contest.
