Chiefs appeal Fifa ruling
COURT: TAKING TRANSFER WINDOW BAN TO CAS
Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed that they will be appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), against the decision by world footballing body Fifa to ban them from registration of players for two transfer windows, after his former side Fosa Juniors lodged a complaint with Fifa over Amakhosi’s signing of Malagasy international Adriamirado “Dax” Andrianarimanana in 2018.
“The Club and the player have received correspondence from the Fifa Disciplinary Committee concerning the Malagasy player Adriamirado Aro Hasina Andrianarimanana,” read a statement yesterday on the Chiefs official website.
“Kaizer Chiefs will lodge an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in accordance to article 58 par. 1 of the Fifa statutes.”
Fifa announced the decision to ban Chiefs on Sunday.
“Chiefs shall be banned from registering players, either nationally or internationally, for the next two entire and consecutive registration periods,” they said in a statement.
“The world football’s governing body’s single judge decided to authorise Safa to provisionally register the player for its affiliated club, Kaizer Chiefs with immediate effect. Respondent I, Andriamirado Aro Hasina Andrianarimanana, is ordered to pay to the claimant, within 30 days as from the date of notification of this decision, compensation for breach of contract in the amount of MGA 157 572 000 plus 5% interest p.a from 11 December 2018 until the date of effective payment. Respondent II, Kaizer Chiefs FC, is jointly and severally liable for the payment of the aforementioned compensation.
“In the event that the aforementioned amount plus interest is not paid within the stated time limit, the present matter shall be submitted upon request, to the Fifa Disciplinary Committee for consideration and a formal decision.”
Chiefs have been given 21 days to lodge an appeal, but if they are unsuccessful it would be a serious blow to their chances of improving their squad, for what looks likely to be participation in next season’s Caf Champions League. Chiefs are currently seven points clear at the top of the Absa Premiership.
There is some confusion over Fifa’s decision, as it was they who gave Chiefs clearance to sign Dax in September 2018, after Fosa Juniors claimed he had a contract with them, while Chiefs believed he was a free agent.
‘We feel vindicated and are happy the matter has been resolved. What’s important for us is that the player can now focus on his football and doing well for us,” said Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung at the time.
The signing didn’t really work out for Chiefs as Dax made just 14 league and cup appearances for the club, scoring two goals, before leaving for Black Leopards this season. His career is also under threat now, as he has been banned from playing for four months by Fifa, as part of the same Disciplinary Committee decision handed down by Fifa.