FIFA has warned the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) over the growing number of football-related disputes being taken to Kenyan courts, cautioning that failure to follow its rules on football independence could lead to disciplinary action.

In a letter dated October 5 and made public on Saturday, FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer Elkhan Mammadov reminded FKF that its constitution requires football disputes to be resolved through recognised arbitration bodies rather than ordinary courts, unless specific legal provisions allow court intervention.

According to Mammadov, FIFA was concerned about the growing number of court cases involving the running and management of football in Kenya, including disputes over competitions, elections, membership and disciplinary decisions.

“We have taken note with concern of the increasing number of proceedings brought before ordinary courts in matters that appear to be intrinsically related to the organisation, administration and governance of football in Kenya,” Mammadov wrote in the letter, addressed to FKF Acting General Secretary Dennis Gicheru.

The FIFA official referred FKF to Article 69 of its 2017 constitution, which requires football-related disputes to be heard by independent arbitration tribunals recognised by FKF or the Confederation of African Football (CAF), or by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland.

He also cited Article 51 of the FIFA Statutes, which prohibits member associations from taking such disputes to ordinary courts unless FIFA rules or national laws specifically allow it, including when seeking temporary court orders.

Mammadov warned that failure to follow the rules could have consequences for the federation, although FIFA did not announce any immediate sanctions against FKF.

“For the avoidance of doubt, FIFA takes the principle of the autonomy of football and the prohibition of recourse to ordinary courts with the utmost seriousness. Any infringement of these principles may lead FIFA to refer the matter to its competent bodies for consideration of appropriate measures in accordance with the FIFA Statutes,” he said.

The warning comes amid a prolonged leadership dispute at FKF involving president Hussein Mohammed and his deputy McDonald Mariga, alongside members of the federation's National Executive Committee (NEC).

The disagreement, which involves concerns over financial accountability and the running of the federation, has spilt into the courts, with the two sides contesting decisions over the leadership and management of Kenyan football.

The divisions have also affected the work of the NEC, with several meetings failing to take place because the members opposing Hussein's administration have stayed away, leaving the committee without the required number of members to conduct business.