The Premier Soccer League has been left humiliated after the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) forcefully intervened to overturn a controversial and unanimous vote by club governors to suspend relegation for the 2025 season. The extraordinary move, which would have saved the league’s bottom clubs from the drop, was declared null and void by the sport’s ultimate governing body in a stunning rebuke that has restored sporting integrity just days before the final whistle.
The crisis erupted following an emergency meeting of the PSL’s 18 clubs in Harare. With the final matches of the season set for this weekend, the club representatives voted to scrap relegation entirely, a decision that would have allowed even the league’s poorest performers to retain their elite status. This would have meant Kwekwe United, rooted to the bottom of the table with a paltry 10 points, and three other yet-to-be-determined teams, would have been saved from the chop.
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ZIFA Rejects PSL Relegation Ban After Intervention
The decision immediately sparked a fierce public backlash, with fans and pundits alike accusing the club owners of making a mockery of the competition to protect their own interests. The proposal would have also bloated the league to 22 teams for the 2026 season, creating a congested fixture list of 42 matches and raising serious questions about stadium availability and player welfare. Critics labelled the plan a “boozers’ adventure,” where the intense fight for survival would be rendered meaningless, with no consequences for failure.
The PSL had attempted to justify its position in a statement, saying,
“The PSL resolved to suspend relegation for the 2025 season. The League will accommodate the newly promoted teams, resulting in an expanded league of twenty-two teams for a transitional period during the 2026 season.”
However, this reasoning was swiftly dismissed by the national association, which holds ultimate authority over the league’s statutes.
ZIFA Restores Order With Firm Ultimatum
In a strongly worded statement released to clarify the situation, ZIFA, under the leadership of Nqobile Magwizi, left no room for debate. The association firmly shut down the PSL’s resolution, emphasising the non-negotiable principles of competitive football.
The Zimbabwe Football Association stated,
“ZIFA wishes to make it unequivocally clear that this proposal cannot be implemented. Promotion and relegation are fundamental components of football competition and are essential to maintaining the integrity, fairness and sporting merit of the league system.”
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The association confirmed that the original framework would stand, adding,
“ZIFA therefore confirms that four clubs will be relegated at the conclusion of the 2025 Castle Premier Soccer League season.”
The governing body also outlined the proper channels for any future changes, noting, “Should the Premier Soccer League or any other member wish to propose an adjustment to the number of participating teams… such a request must be formally submitted to the Association.” With ZIFA’s decisive action, the league season can now conclude as intended. Scottland will be crowned champions, while a dramatic “Super Sunday” will see a dog-eat-dog battle to determine which three teams will join Kwekwe United in facing relegation.
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The post ZIFA Rejects PSL Relegation Ban After Intervention appeared first on iHarare News.
