📄⚽️ The Contract That Couldn’t Be Enforced

In the world of professional football, contracts are more than mere paperwork—they are lifelines. For one Ghanaian footballer, that lifeline was abruptly severed—not just by a club’s decision, but by a system that offered no recourse.

In March 2025, the player signed a one-month, seven-game contract with a Nepalese football club competing in the Nepalese Super League (I didn’t even know a one-month season was a thing 😅). Anyway… the agreement, which ran from 29 March to 26 April 2025, promised a total of US$8,000 net, split equally between arrival and departure. As agreed, the player received US$4,000 upon arrival…

The player fulfilled his obligations—he trained, played, and contributed to the team. Yet, three weeks in, before the season concluded, the club terminated his contract, citing lack of fitness, due to a prior injury that had been fully disclosed and medically cleared by the said club. To make matters worse, the club booked him a one-way ticket back to Ghana, effectively abandoning him mid-season. The remaining US$4,000 was never paid.

Like many players, he turned to FIFA, expecting the global governing body to uphold the contract. But here’s the twist: the club was, apparently, not affiliated with its national football association. As a result, FIFA’s Football Tribunal could not hear the case.

‼️“We regret having to inform you that we are not in a position to continue proceedings against…,” FIFA wrote, citing procedural rules that limit jurisdiction to affiliated clubs.

This case exposes a troubling gap in international football governance.

The player has since tried to engage an employment lawyer in Nepal, however, he’s unable to pay the legal fees. If the club was affiliated to the National Football Association, this would not have been a problem.

So where lies the problem ⁉️

Players often assume clubs are FIFA-affiliated when signing contracts abroad. When things go wrong, they are left without legal protection, financial compensation, or even a way home.

What needs to change ⁉️

➡️ Transparency: Clubs should be required to clearly disclose their affiliation status in contracts, especially if they are playing in a league that is affiliated to FIFA.
➡️ Verification Tools: FIFA or regional bodies should maintain a public registry of affiliated clubs.
➡️ Player Education: Agents and unions must better prepare players for the risks of signing abroad.
➡️ Accountability: National associations must be held responsible for clubs operating under their umbrella without proper affiliation.

This story is not unique—but it is urgent.

As football becomes increasingly global, so too must its protections. No player should be left stranded, unpaid, and unheard because of a technicality.

If there’s anyone who has experience in the Nepalese league I’d like to hear from you 🙏🏾

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