Play off costs and a standoff between ZIFA and the Premier Soccer League have emerged as the main reasons the local football governing body now contemplating relegating four teams.

With only two rounds of matches to go the relegation battle has been thrown in chaos with teams that had appeared to be safe now set to for fight for survival.

The ZIFA assembly had resolved in 2015 that only two teams would be relegated while a playoff between the four Division One league would take place to determine the two sides to be promoted.

However the ZIFA assembly met at the weekend and resolved that four teams will be relegated this season.

The PSL has been blamed for the chaos after through its president Peter Dube said it could not fund the play off costs themselves. In addition the resolution to relegate four teams saw PSL clubs lose with 24 councillors reportedly voting yes while all 16 clubs voted no to the proposal.

ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa admitted there appeared to be a feud between PSL and ZIFA indicating he would try and resolve the matter soon.

“I will have to try, as quickly as possible to find ways of ensuring that the two parties find each other so that we don’t put our football into disrepute he told the Herald.

It could be suddenly intense battle to survive relegation if ZIFA goes ahead with the U-turn.  Chapungu and Tsholotsho who had been occupying “safe spots” would go down together with Border Strikers (already relegated) and Mutare City who are second from bottom with 25 points. Hwange and Triangle are not entirely safe either if four teams are relegated with both teams tied on 35 points.