Zimbabwe has been expelled from the qualification series of the 2018 World Cup by world football’s governing body FIFA for failing to pay former coach Jose Claudinei Georgini.

A statement on the FIFA website on Thursday read “Given ZIFA’s failure to make any payment within the granted periods and the request presented by the creditor, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has ordered the expulsion of ZIFA from the preliminary competition of the 2018 World Cup.”

Draws for the African qualifying campaign to the 2018 World Cup is scheduled to take place in July, with qualifying matches to begin in October.

Meanwhile a Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) official has however stated that the expulsion would be appealed, stating “just because a ruling has been declared, it doesn’t mean the door has been closed.”

It is believed that Jose Claudinei Georgini, also known as Valinhos, is owed $67,000 in salary and allowances from his spell as coach between January and November 2008.