Zambia's anti-corruption agency questions FA chief

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya has appeared before anti-corruption officials for questioning into alleged corruption in the management of football in the country.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Corporate Affairs Officer Christopher Chibanku said in a brief statement on Friday that Bwalya appeared for questioning on Thursday in regard to corruption allegations in the running of soccer, reports Xinhua.

The official, however did not divulge any information on the nature of the interrogations, saying it may jeopardise the investigations.

"The ACC wishes to state that it is continuing with its investigations into allegations of corruption practices at FAZ. The commission will not comment further on this matter as this might jeopardise the on-going investigations," he said.

Two other senior officials from the soccer governing body were questioned on Wednesday in connection with alleged corrupt activities at Football House, according to local media.

Recently, a former senior official from the soccer governing body alleged that the FAZ was engaged in corruption practices and asked the anti-corruption agency to launch investigations.

Former FAZ treasurer Kelvin Mutafu claimed recently that corruption was rife at Football House which led to the termination of the Nike sponsorship deal and also on match tickets which are operated by a South African firm instead of a local firm.

Bwalya was also being investigated for allegedly receiving money from former FIFA vice-president Bin Hammam in exchange for votes at the 2011 FIFA congress, the charges the 1988 African footballer of the year has dismissed saying it was a debt acquired to run the association.

In 2014, Kalusha was named among 30 African football administrators who allegedly received illegal payments from Hammam to support the controversial awarding of FIFA 2022 World Cup to Qatar.