FAZ June transfer window ‘not opened’

MUKWIMA CHILALA writes THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) says the registration window for the 2020/2021 which was scheduled to open on June 1, 2020 has not yet been open. According to a circular by FAZ registrar Iva Lengwe addressed to all clubs, the window was yet to open because the 2019/2020 season had not yet ended. Lengwe said the FIFA regulations on the Status and Transfer of players Article (2) stated that ‘’the first registration period shall begin after the completion of the season and shall end before the new season starts. Lengwe, however, said that FIFA had now allowed member Associations to open the window for the 2020/2021 season even before the league closes and that FAZ was still brainstorming on the best time to open the window. He noted that one critical point from the FIFA circular was that while registration window had been allowed to open before the season ends, clubs would not be allowed to field the newly registered players until the next season begins . “According to the FIFA circular on COVID-19 guidelines issued earlier, any player’s contract that should have expired by June 1 2020 should be automatically extended and should continue playing for their current clubs for the remainder of 2019/2020 season,” Lengwe said. The Football Association will soon advise all Football entities on the possible dates that the 2019/2020 season will resume and complete and will further update you on the possible commencement of the 2020-2021 season as possible. The Zambia league season was suspended in March following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and could be opened soon following indication by Government that sports activities will soon be opened up. The Sun