The tug-of-war between the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) the country’s football authorities has taken another dramatic twist, leaving many observers sceptical about what is truly happening behind the scenes.
This week, the PSL announced a major shift in its competition structure, revealing plans to expand the league to 22 teams for the 2026 season, suspend relegation for 2025, and then revert to a 20-team format in 2027. The justification, according to their statement, was to accommodate newly promoted teams and smoothen the transition into an expanded league era.
However, within hours, the football governing body firmly pushed back. They stressed that no such change can take effect without going through formal procedures, making it clear that promotion and relegation remain non-negotiable pillars of football competition. As things stand, they confirmed that four teams will still be relegated at the end of the 2025 season—directly contradicting the PSL’s earlier position.
The contradiction has sparked widespread confusion—and even more suspicion.
While the PSL insists it is preparing for a more robust league by widening participation, many are now asking uncomfortable questions. Why was such a massive structural change announced before proper consultation? And more pointedly, who benefits if relegation is suddenly removed for a season?
Critics argue that the move could be interpreted as an attempt to shield struggling clubs from the drop. With several big teams flirting with the lower end of the table this season, the timing of the proposal has not gone unnoticed. Others believe the PSL may be testing boundaries, pushing reforms faster than stakeholders can process.
Whatever the true motive, the fallout has placed the league in an awkward position. The PSL is now walking a fine line between innovation and overreach—between safeguarding clubs and appearing to manipulate the system.
For now, the matter remains unresolved in the public eye, but one thing is clear:
football fans deserve transparency, and both institutions must avoid turning the league’s integrity into collateral damage in their power struggle.
