The Ghana Soccer Affiliation (GFA) has imposed a switch ban on Legon Cities Soccer Membership after the membership didn’t adjust to the cost schedule ordered by the GFA’s Gamers’ Standing Committee (PSC) and subsequently enforced by the Disciplinary Committee.
The case, which dates again to October 2021, revolves round unpaid entitlements owed to former participant Francis Nuer Addo. In response to the disciplinary ruling, Legon Cities had been instructed to pay the participant GHS 29,000 in excellent salaries and advantages, masking the interval from October 2021 to October 2022.
Regardless of a number of reminders and an prolonged cost plan, Legon Cities defaulted on the agreed instalments, lacking deadlines set for December 2024, January 2025, and February 2025.
The membership was fined GHC 5,000, and a switch ban got here into impact after November 27, 2024.
“PURSUANT to Article 15(1)(a) of the GFA Disciplinary Code, Legon Cities FC is hereby fined an quantity of 5 Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢5,000.00), for failing to adjust to the Participant’s Standing Committee’s choice. This fantastic is payable to the GFA upon receipt of this Enforcement Choice on or earlier than Friday, December 6, 2024.
“PURSUANT to Article 15(1)(b) of the GFA Disciplinary Code, Legon Cities FC is hereby given a ultimate deadline to pay the complete quantity of GH¢29,000.00 to Francis Nuer Addo as per the choice of the PSC in 2 (2) instalments:
“i. the quantity of GH¢ 10,000.00 to be paid on or earlier than December 23, 2024,
ii. the quantity of GH¢10,000.00 to be paid on or earlier than January 23, 2025.
“iii. the quantity of GH¢9,000.00 to be paid on or earlier than February 23, 2025 .
“PURSUANT to Article15(1)(c) of the GFA Disciplinary Code, failing to pay the quantities acknowledged in Choice 1 and a pair of above, the next sanctions shall apply robotically:
“i. the Membership shall undergo three-point deduction for each league or FA Cup match performed ought to Legon Cities FC fail to adjust to the Selections 1, and a pair of on or earlier than the deadline talked about above.
“ii. the Membership shall undergo a switch ban (each home and worldwide), ought to Legon Cities FC proceed to be in default with the Selections 1 and a pair of from the opening of the participant switch home windows for the 2025/26 season.
“That in accordance with Article 15(2) of the GFA Disciplinary Code, Legon Cities FC is hereby warned to adjust to this Selections strictly; failing which the sanctions threatened above shall be utilized robotically by the Ghana Soccer Affiliation (GFA), its our bodies or Committees, IT Division of the GFA and all departments of the GFA.”
Above are the Disciplinary Committee specific warning to the membership that failure to satisfy these deadlines would set off computerized sanctions, together with a switch ban and factors deductions.
Following the membership’s persistent default the switch ban which applies each domestically and internationally for the 2025/26 season was robotically triggered.
Moreover, the rules stipulate that Legon Cities would undergo a three-point deduction per league or FA Cup match performed whereas the debt stays unpaid.
In impact, Legon Cities ought to have forfeited their league and FA Cup matches performed after February 23, 2025, however that didn’t occur.
The switch ban, nonetheless, takes impact from 2025/26 season and is anticipated to limit Legon Cities from registering new gamers till the complete debt to Addo is settled, consistent with Article 15(1)(c) of the GFA Disciplinary Code (2019).
Francis Addo, who initiated the enforcement course of via the Skilled Footballers Affiliation of Ghana (PFAG), has brazenly expressed his disappointment over the GFA’s delay in implementing the choice.
In a proper letter to the GFA dated June 19, 2025, Addo criticised the obvious selective enforcement of sanctions, stating that whereas different golf equipment like Nsoatreman FC had been penalised promptly for related breaches, the GFA appeared to delay sanctions in opposition to Legon Cities.
“Pursuant to Article 15(2) of the GFA Disciplinary Code (2019) which required of the creditor to request for the graduation of relevant sanctions on the debtor, I accordingly did so by a letter dated 14th April, 2024, delivered and duly obtained/stamped by your workplace on fifteenth April, 2025 (proof connected).
“Respectfully, up to now, you haven’t dignified my request with any administrative response, not to mention proven by deed and incontrovertible fact that the mentioned computerized sanction is relevant since twenty third February, 2025.
“The place above is supported by the truth that while you diligently refer offenders to the Disciplinary Committee and apply regulatory sanctions as within the forfeiture of factors by Nsoatreman FC since MidMarch 2025, your outfit seems unwilling to implement the sanctions in opposition to Legon Cities as per the present league desk, and even as much as the purpose of your current approval of dates for the 2025/26 soccer season and the Peculiar Congress.”
He argued that the non-enforcement of the choice undermines the credibility of the Ghana Premier League desk and erodes belief within the judicial our bodies of the affiliation. He additional confused that the failure to behave decisively might function a disincentive to potential sponsors and traders.
Nuer Addo additionally raised considerations concerning the danger to unsuspecting gamers who would possibly signal contracts with Legon Cities with out being conscious of the switch ban, which might make their registration not possible.
“The league desk should be revised to mirror the forfeiture of matches as supplied by the rules,” he demanded. “The GFA should additionally publish the listing of all golf equipment underneath switch bans to guard the curiosity of gamers.”
He prolonged his attraction to the Ministry of Sports activities, the Nationwide Sports activities Authority, and the sporting media, urging all stakeholders to make sure transparency within the enforcement of soccer rules.
As of now, Legon Cities are formally barred from taking part in participant transfers for the upcoming season till they clear their debt in full.
The membership was relegated to Division One at rhe finish of the 2024/25 Ghana Premier League season.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Feedback, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform don’t essentially signify the views or coverage of Multimedia Group Restricted.
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