PSL club’s FIFA transfer ban lifted

Published on by Nkosiyabuya Sithole

A PSL club will now be able to sign players after the FIFA transfer ban is lifted following the club's payment of the amount owed to the player.

Several PSL clubs including Kaizer Chiefs have experienced the ban in the recent years due to different cases filed at the world’s football mother body FIFA.

TS Galaxy found themselves in hot water in June with FIFA ordering them to pay their former striker Bernard Yao Kouassi R1,8 million before they are able to register new players.

Kouassi signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with TS Galaxy in January 2023. However, his stint was short-lived, as he departed the club in August of the same year without making a single appearance. He left while the club was owing him his dues.

Deep Ray who was the representative of the player confirmed to KickOff that the club had settled the outstanding amount, leading to a ban to be lifted.

PSL CLUB CAN NOW BREATHE SIGH OF RELIEF WITH BAN LIFTED

“All due processes have been followed and they finally paid Bernard last week, which means FIFA can now lift the transfer ban, which will then allow them to register new players,” Deep Ray told KickOff.

“Once the club has made the payment, they need to upload the proof of payment on the FIFA legal portal because this is the procedure for cases relating to non-compliance.

“We have already informed FIFA that the payment has been made and the transfer ban has [been] or will be lifted. The case is over.

“The matter at hand was that Bernard was invited to TS Galaxy in January last year and signed a contract (on January 17, 2023, but was ultimately not registered.

“They then wanted to get rid of Bernard without paying any compensation even though he had a contract.

“I spoke to the club lawyers because I know them from another case, but they were not interested, so we had no option than to approach FIFA.

“I have seen the comments that the club president (Tim Sukazi) has made in the media to the effect that Bernard is a trickster extorting money from the club, but I can tell you that this was never the idea.

“Bernard wanted to play, but with the conduct of TS Galaxy, he lost out on playing for several months.

“They also paid the cost of appeal at CAS, which was their right, and the experienced arbitrators upheld the FIFA decision.”

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Nkosiyabuya Sithole

Nkosiyabuya Sithole, a young and rising sports journalist based in Durban, South Africa, harbors a deep passion for football. Nevertheless, he aspires to become a well-rounded journalist, adept in various areas of the field.

Nkosi's career began in 2020, working as a home-based writer during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has since written for various websites, including Briefly News, FiND-iT News, and The South African. Attending live sporting events is a particular pleasure for him, as they provide opportunities for interaction with sports personalities.

Outside of the office, he's a God-fearing and affable young man.