Bruce Mwape, head coach of the Zambian women's football team, has been investigated over accusations of sexual misconduct, according to a report published this weekend in The Guardian.
The Guardian quotes an anonymous player as saying, "If he wants to sleep with someone, you have to say yes. It's normal that the coach sleeps with the players on our team."
According to the report another source close to the team alleged that, "They are being threatened with punitive action if they dare say anything about what happened. The federation is turning a blind eye because the women have had good results. It's their way to show to the public and to the authorities success and a good image."
Mwape has been head coach since 2018. The Football Association of Zambia said September of last year that they referred the investigation to Fifa, which general secretary Adrian Kashala later explained was because of its status "an independent body which has the capacity to...handle the inquiries," but affirmed that "definitely [the FAZ] are going to take sanctions."
U17 coach Kaluba Kangwa is also believed to have been investigated.
Fifa said they would not comment on whether investigations are underway, per their policy.
Mwape led the team to their first-ever qualification for the Women's World Cup. They were drawn in Group C and will play Spain, Japan, and Costa Rica in just a few weeks.
The team, ranked 77th worldwide, shocked the world Friday in a 3-2 upset win over World No. 2 Germany.
