The Zambian Premier League (ZPL) has sanctioned ZESCO United Football Club for fielding ineligible players in their fixture against Konkola Blades on 16th August 2025, but the decision has sparked outrage from sections of the football fraternity who allege double standards in the application of league regulations.
According to an official communication from the ZPL Secretariat, ZESCO United has been found guilty of fielding twenty (20) ineligible players during the match, which has consequently been forfeited in favour of Konkola Blades with a 3–0 scoreline. In addition, ZESCO United has been fined K10,000, payable within seven days.
The ZPL further accused ZESCO of submitting an official team list that contained FAZ ID numbers belonging to players different from those listed, raising concerns of falsification of documents and misrepresentation.
However, the sanctions have been viewed by many as harsh and selectively applied, given that several other ZPL clubs are yet to finalise the registration of their players but have not faced similar punishment. Critics argue that the ruling undermines the fairness and credibility of the competition by targeting one club while ignoring widespread compliance challenges across the league.
