Zimbabwe booted out of 2018 FIFA World Cup

Baku.13 March.REPORT.AZ/ ZIMBABWE was yesterday expelled from the preliminary competition of the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia after failing to settle a $67 000 salary debt for former Warriors coach, Brazilian Valinhos, whose real name is Jose Claudinei Georgini, Report informs citing foregn media. 

Zimbabwe’s expulsion spoils Fifa’s recent claim of a first qualifying campaign where all its member federations would play.

The ban came on the day the 2018 qualifiers started with Bhutan, ranked 209 out of 209 in the world, winning their first ever World Cup qualifier by beating Sri Lanka 1-0 while East Timor beat Mongolia 4-1 in another match in the global World Cup qualifying programme.

The move to disqualify Zimbabwe would mean that Fifa, which was due to give Zifa $300 000 for the World Cup qualifiers, would now use the money to pay Valinhos if Zifa loses its urgent appeal submitted yesterday.

Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze last night said they had appealed to Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke over the disqualification.