Zambia: ZESCO United challenge league expulsion, defend court action

Zambian giants ZESCO United have responded strongly after being expelled from the Zambian Premier League, insisting they acted within their rights in pursuing legal redress.

The nine-time league champions were sanctioned for allegedly breaching league regulations by taking a football-related dispute to an ordinary court of law, a move deemed contrary to the rules governing the competition.

In a detailed statement, the club pushed back against the decision, arguing that their actions were guided by due process and existing football governance structures.

“Despite these efforts, FAZ and the ZPL did not oblige the club’s request, and in fact intimated that the matter was administrative and did not require the intervention of any other body beyond FAZ and the ZPL,” reads the statement.

ZESCO United explained that their move to the High Court was aimed at compelling the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to activate the arbitration process предусмотрed under its constitution, rather than to have the court decide the dispute itself.

“On account of the response from FAZ, and regard being had to the provisions of the FAZ Constitution which enjoins jurisdiction of the Zambian Arbitration Act, ZESCO United proceeded to the High Court to seek judicial intervention to compel FAZ to facilitate for the convening of Arbitration Tribunal so that its grievance against the Association could be heard in line with due process and established football governance frameworks, especially the FAZ Constitution.

They further clarified that the High Court had already directed FAZ to facilitate the setting up of an arbitration tribunal to hear the matter.

“It should be made very clear that the club did not seek the High Court to determine its dispute with FAZ and the ZPL, and in fact as of 2nd April, 2026, the High Court directed FAZ to facilitate for the convocation of the Arbitration Tribunal, so as to hear the dispute.

The club maintained that it remains committed to resolving the dispute through proper football governance channels, adding that it is continuing engagements with stakeholders to ensure a “fair, lawful, and expeditious” resolution.

“ZESCO United remains committed to resolving this matter through the appropriate football governance channels, which the club sought to enforce through the court to ensure ZPL’s adherence. We continue to engage all relevant stakeholders to ensure a fair, lawful, and expeditious resolution.”