Zambia fans in allowance protest

Football fans in Zambia had to be removed by armed police from outside the headquarters of the country's football association on Tuesday.

The supporters were protesting about a row over allowances for the country's footballers that is threatening to derail Zambia's hopes of qualifying for next year's African Cup of Nations finals in Angola.

The fans blocked the gates to the football association headquarters and prevented coach Herve Renard hosting a press conference that he was due to hold on Tuesday.

The Chipolopolo face Rwanda in Kigali this weekend needing to avoid defeat by a two-goal margin to book their place in Angola.

But in the build-up to the crucial fixture, players are up in arms, outraged by the $15 each of them got for the last qualifier against Egypt.

"From the first time I started playing for my country, I've never been paid such an amount," moaned Germany-based midfielder Andrew Sinkala.

"I'm disappointed that I travelled all the way from Germany only to be insulted like that. It's very demoralising."

Some local players have been further enraged by the $250 they were each paid for finishing second to Zimbabwe in the recent Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup in Harare.

The players, who spoke on condition they are not named, claimed that Football Association of Zambia (Faz) officials kept telling them to play because they would get "something" after the tournament.

However, Faz treasurer Bon Mwamelo told BBC Sport that "the players were paid what was due to them."

But he refused to disclose the figures involved.

"I can't tell you what we pay them because our policy is not to discuss such issues in the press.

"As regards the payment for the Egypt game, that was the Sports Ministry's responsibility and not Faz's," he added.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
BBC Fast Track - at the heart of African sport
Caf
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites