15 Agosti 2025
Kamati ya Maadili ya FIFA
Shirikisho la Soka Duniani (FIFA)
FIFA-Strasse 20
S.L.P. 8044
Zurich, Uswisi
KUMBUKUMBU YA MALALAMIKO RASMI DHIDI YA KLABU YA YOUNG AFRICAN SPORTS CLUB KWA KUJIHUSISHA NA SIASA ZA VYAMA – TANZANIA
Waheshimiwa Wajumbe wa Kamati ya Maadili ya FIFA,
Sisi, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), kwa heshima tunawasilisha malalamiko haya rasmi na kuomba hatua za haraka kuchukuliwa kuhusu mwenendo wa Young African Sports Club (Yanga) ya Tanzania, ambayo vitendo vyake vya karibuni vinakiuka moja kwa moja misingi ya FIFA ya kutoshiriki katika masuala ya kisiasa na kudumisha uhuru wa michezo.
1. Historia ya Tukio
Mnamo 12 Agosti 2025, katika ukumbi wa Mlimani City jijini Dar es Salaam, kwenye shughuli ya kuchangisha fedha iliyoandaliwa na chama tawala Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Klabu ya Young African Sports Club ilitoa mchango wa shilingi milioni 100 za Kitanzania (100,000,000/=) kwa chama hicho.
Hafla hiyo ilihudhuriwa na mgombea urais wa CCM na mgombea mwenza wake. Rais wa klabu, Mhandisi Herse Said Ali, alikuwepo, alishiriki kikamilifu na aliwakilisha klabu katika kutoa mchango huo.
Kitendo hiki—cha klabu kujihusisha moja kwa moja na chama cha siasa wakati wa kampeni za uchaguzi—ni hatua ya wazi ya kisiasa inayokwenda kinyume na matakwa ya FIFA.
2. Ukiukaji wa Kanuni na Misingi ya FIFA
Vitendo hivi vinakiuka kanuni kadhaa za uongozi wa FIFA:
a) Katiba ya FIFA
Ibara ya 4(2): FIFA hubaki bila upande katika masuala ya dini na siasa; hali hii inawahusu pia wanachama wake, ligi, klabu na viongozi.
Ibara ya 14(1)(d) & (i): Mashirikisho ya wanachama lazima yahakikishe wanachama wao (ikiwemo klabu) wanazingatia katiba ya FIFA na kusimamia mambo yao kwa uhuru, bila ushawishi wa kisiasa au wa mtu wa tatu.
Ibara ya 19: Uhuru wa mashirikisho ya wanachama na wanachama wao dhidi ya ushawishi wa kisiasa au wa mtu wa tatu.
Ibara ya 20: Hali ya klabu; klabu lazima ziwe huru katika kufanya maamuzi bila shinikizo la nje.
b) Kanuni za Maadili za FIFA (2023)
Ibara ya 15 – Wajibu wa kutokuwa na upande: Viongozi lazima wabaki wasioegemea upande wa kisiasa wanapotekeleza majukumu yao.
Ibara ya 20 – Migongano ya maslahi: Inakataza kuchukua hatua pale ambapo maslahi ya kisiasa au binafsi yanaweza kuathiri vibaya majukumu; inahitaji kueleza na kujiondoa.
Masharti haya kwa pamoja yanakataza aina yoyote ya kuunga mkono kisiasa, kushirikiana au kutoa msaada wa kifedha na klabu. Vitendo vya Yanga vinapingana moja kwa moja na wajibu wa FIFA wa kulinda soka dhidi ya udhibiti wa kisiasa.
3. Athari kwa Soka la Tanzania
Young African Sports Club ni moja ya taasisi kubwa zaidi za soka nchini Tanzania, yenye wanachama, wachezaji na mashabiki kutoka kila upande wa kisiasa. Kwa kuchukua upande wazi wa chama cha siasa:
a) Klabu inawatenga baadhi ya wanachama na mashabiki wake.
b) Inaharibu imani ya umma kuhusu kutokuwa upande wowote wa klabu.
c) Inadhoofisha roho ya mshikamano wa mchezo wa soka.
Viongozi wa Yanga pia hapo awali wameonyesha wazi msimamo wa kisiasa wa kuunga mkono CCM, hali inayoonyesha mtindo wa mwenendo unaopingana na kanuni za FIFA. Tukio hili la sasa mchango wa kifedha, wa moja kwa moja na wa hadhi ya juu kwa chama cha kisiasa ndilo ukiukaji mkubwa zaidi hadi sasa.
4. Hatua Zinazohitajika
Kwa kuzingatia yaliyotajwa hapo juu, tunaiomba FIFA:
a) Kufungua uchunguzi wa haraka kuhusu shughuli na uhusiano wa kisiasa wa Klabu ya Young African Sports Club.
b) Kuweka hatua za kinidhamu dhidi ya klabu na viongozi husika, kwa mujibu wa kanuni za FIFA, ikiwemo Kanuni ya Nidhamu ya FIFA.
c) Kuthibitisha upya dhamira ya FIFA ya kulinda soka nchini Tanzania dhidi ya ushawishi wa kisiasa, ili kudumisha uhuru, heshima na mshikamano wake.
5. Hitimisho
Uadilifu na hadhi ya FIFA kama mlezi wa uhuru wa mchezo wa soka hutegemea kuhakikisha kwamba klabu zote—bila kujali historia, umaarufu au mafanikio yao zinasimamiwa kwa viwango sawa.
Tunaiomba Kamati ya Maadili ichukue hatua za haraka na thabiti kushughulikia ukiukaji huu mkubwa, na kutuma ujumbe wazi kwamba siasa hazina nafasi katika soka.
Tupo tayari kutoa taarifa au vielelezo zaidi vinavyohitajika.
Wenu kwa heshima,
John Kitoka
Mkurugenzi wa Mambo ya Nje na Diaspora
Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA)
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CHADEMA
SIA House No. 31, Daima Street, Mikocheni
P.O. Box 31191, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Phone: (022) 2668866 | Fax: (022) 2668866
E-mail:
info@chadema.or.tz | Website:
www.chadema.or.tz
15th August 2025
FIFA Ethics Committee
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)
FIFA-Strasse 20
P.O. Box 8044
Zurich, Switzerland
RE: FORMAL COMPLAINT AGAINST YOUNG AFRICAN SPORTS CLUB FOR INVOLVEMENT IN PARTY POLITICS – TANZANIA
Dear Members of the FIFA Ethics Committee,
We, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), respectfully submit this formal complaint and request for urgent intervention regarding the conduct of Young African Sports Club (Yanga) of Tanzania, whose recent actions constitute a direct breach of FIFA’s fundamental principles of political neutrality and independence.
1. Factual Background
On 12th August 2025, at Mlimani City, Dar es Salaam, during a political fundraising event organized by the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Young African Sports Club made a financial contribution of Tanzanian Shillings 100,000,000/= to the party.
The event was attended by the CCM presidential candidate and her running mate. The club’s President, Eng. Herse Said Ali, was present, actively participated in the proceedings, and represented the club in making the contribution.
This action—directly linking the club to a political party’s national leadership during an election campaign—constitutes an explicit act of political alignment by the club.
2. Violations of FIFA Rules and Principles
This conduct contravenes multiple provisions of FIFA’s governing framework:
a) FIFA Statutes
Article 4(2): FIFA remains neutral in matters of politics and religion; this neutrality extends to member associations, leagues, clubs, and officials.
Article 14(1)(d) & (i): Member Associations must ensure that their members (including clubs) comply with FIFA Statutes and manage their affairs independently, free from political or third-party influence.
Article 19: Independence of member associations and their members from third-party (including political) interference.
Article 20: Status of clubs; clubs must make decisions independently of any external body.
b) FIFA Code of Ethics (2023)
Article 15 – Duty of neutrality: Officials must remain politically neutral when performing their duties.
Article 20 – Conflicts of interest: Prohibits acting where political or personal interests could improperly influence duties; requires disclosure and recusal.
These provisions collectively prohibit any form of political endorsement, affiliation, or financial support by clubs. Yanga’s actions strike at the core of FIFA’s mandate to keep football free from political manipulation.
3. Impact on Tanzanian Football
Young African Sports Club is one of the most prominent football institutions in Tanzania, with members, players, and supporters from across the political spectrum. By openly taking sides with a political party:
a) The club alienates sections of its own membership and supporter base.
b) It undermines public trust in the club’s neutrality.
c) It erodes the unifying spirit of the game.
Furthermore, the leadership of Yanga has previously displayed overt political support for CCM, demonstrating a pattern of behavior inconsistent with FIFA’s rules. This latest incident—a direct, high-profile financial contribution to a political party—is the most blatant violation to date.
4. Requested Action
In light of the above, we respectfully request that FIFA:
a) Open an immediate investigation into Young African Sports Club’s political activities and affiliations.
b) Impose appropriate disciplinary measures against the club and the responsible officials, in accordance with FIFA regulations, including the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
c) Reaffirm FIFA’s commitment to safeguarding football in Tanzania from political interference and influence, thereby preserving its independence, integrity, and unity.
5. Conclusion
FIFA’s credibility as the guardian of football’s independence depends on ensuring that all clubs—regardless of their history, popularity, or achievements—are held to the same standard.
We therefore urge the Ethics Committee to act promptly and decisively to address this serious breach, sending a clear message that political manipulation has no place in football.
We remain at your disposal to provide any further information or evidence required.
Yours faithfully,
John Kitoka
Director of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs
Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA)