Aug 27, 2024, 01:00 PM ET
Orlando Pride general manager and vice president of soccer operations Haley Carter has filed a grievance with FIFA against the Football Association of Zambia on behalf of new signing Grace Chanda, ESPN confirmed.
The grievance, first reported by Africa media outlet Bolanews, is for the Zambian federation’s “failure to provide a reasonable standard of care for player health and safety” after Chanda suffered a ruptured quadriceps tendon while playing for Zambia at the 2024 Olympics.
Chanda left Zambia’s opening match of the Olympics — a 3-0 loss to the United States — after 38 minutes due to injury.
She did not play again in the tournament.
Carter posted on social media platform X that Chanda was “[asked] to continue training and play in the opening match post-injury.”
Orlando signed Chanda in May, and she was due to begin playing with the Pride following the Olympics. Instead, Chanda was placed on the season-ending injury list earlier this month.
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An Orlando Pride spokesperson confirmed that Carter, not the club, filed the grievance with FIFA, and that Carter could not comment further due to the investigation being ongoing.
ESPN has reached out to FIFA seeking comment.
“We are incredibly disappointed for Grace at this injury and how it occurred,” Carter said in a statement earlier this month. “Fortunately, she is under the best possible care with our medical and performance teams here at the club and through Orlando Health. While her debut in purple will be later than planned, it’s imperative we prioritize her health and welfare through a safe and responsible return to the pitch.”
Carter had previously posted on social media that Chanda was subject to “inadequate medical and performance resources” in addition to economy travel from Orlando to France for the Olympics.
Zambia’s football operations were already under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct by head coach Bruce Mwape.
Grace Chanda was injured during play for Zambia at the Olympics. Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images
FIFA opened that investigation last year and it remained ongoing heading into the 2024 Olympics, where Mwape was banned from having any private contact with players but remained on the sidelines coaching the team.
Zambia lost all three matches at the 2024 Olympics, conceding 13 goals. Chanda signed with the Pride through the 2025 NWSL season, with a mutual option for 2026.
She previously played for Madrid CFF in Spain’s top flight and was on the shortlist for Africa’s player of the year award in 2022.
Chanda was ruled out of the 2023 World Cup on the eve of Zambia’s opening match due to what the federation reported as an illness.
Orlando is unbeaten through 17 games this season and sits atop the NWSL table with 41 points.
The Pride are in search of their first NWSL Shield — and first trophy overall — and only their second playoff appearance since joining the NWSL in 2016.
Orlando is led by Zambian forward Barbra Banda, whose 12 goals rank second in the league.
