FIFA’s chief women’s football officer Sarai Bareman has confirmed that Zambia striker Barbra Banda will be eligible to play at this year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Banda had been ruled ineligible by the Football Association of Zambia to represent the country at last year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after failing a gender eligibility test.
The 22-year-old made history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics when she became the first female player to score successive hat-tricks at the Games.
However, Banda was excluded from the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations when it emerged that natural testosterone levels exceeded limits set by the Confederation of African Football.
Since then, Banda has returned to the national set-up and helped Zambia win the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations Women’s Championship in September.
Bareman told BBC Sport Africa that Banda would also be able to play at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, scheduled to be held from July 20 to August 20.
“We are looking forward to welcoming her to Australia and New Zealand next year to participate,” said Bareman.
Bareman also confirmed that FIFA was currently reviewing its gender eligibility regulations.
“It’s a very complex topic and there are many, many people who have their views on it,” added Bareman.
“As FIFA, our role is to take all those views into consideration, because we really have to understand every view – the research, evidence, individual situations, the human rights side of things – and we have to factor all of that in before we can take any decisions.
“It’s a big decision, and it’s going to have a big impact for many people.”
Source : Geoff Berkeley
