Former Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) president Jamal Malinzi has responded after he was banned by the world football governing body, FIFA, on Tuesday.
Malinzi was served with a ten-year suspension from all football-related activities and a 500,000 Swiss francs (US$503,000) fine for misappropriation of funds and falsifying documents.
Malinzi, who has been in prison in Tanzania on remand since June 2017 over claims of embezzlement and money laundering, issued a press statement on Friday though his associate Richard Rweyongeza stating that the decision was issued without his knowledge.
“This is very unfortunate as [Mr Jamal] Malinzi says he was not aware of any proceedings against him before anybody or body of persons except the proceedings pending in the Court of Resident Magistrate at Kisitu in Dar es Salaam, hence if any person was contacted by FIFA that was not Malinzi,” read part of the statement.
“It is common knowledge that since the arrest of Malinzi in July 2017, he has remained in custody up to date. Any correspondence to Malinzi be it official or otherwise, could only reach him through Prison Superintendent where he has been incarcerated.
“Nothing has been received by Malinzi from FIFA or TFF on that matter at all.”
“It is very surprising the decision makes reference to and a finding of charges that are pending at Kisutu against Malinzi and others where a judgement of the court is yet to be delivered,” added the former TFF top official.
“Malinzi has all reasons to conclude that what has been done to him is contrary to all principles of natural justice and is contemplating on what steps to take next.”
The ruling made by FIFA through its adjudicatory chamber of the independent ethics committee “was related to the misappropriation of FIFA Financial Assistance Programme funds, as well as other CAF and TFF funds, in the period between 2013 and 2017, and the forgery of a TFF Executive Committee resolution”.
Malinzi received $528,000 over four years and $55,000 in prize money earned by Tanzania at the 2017 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations to repay alleged loans he made that “lack proper justification or explanation.”
