FIFA has placed a transfer ban on Heartland FC, a team in the Nigeria National League, due to unpaid debts to former player Roland Koffi.
Last week, the Nigeria Premier Football League received a notice from FIFA informing the club, based in Owerri, that it cannot register new players for the next three transfer windows until the outstanding payment is settled. This ban is effective immediately, preventing the club from making any player transactions for three consecutive transfer periods.
Additionally, the Nigeria Football Federation’s Players’ Status and Arbitration Committee (PSAC) had previously instructed Heartland to settle payments owed to several former players, including Umah Johnson, Esobe Chukwudi, Ezekiel Bassey, and Ugochukwu Leonard.
This action reflects FIFA’s ongoing focus on enforcing financial accountability among clubs and safeguarding players’ rights globally. It also highlights the growing trend of Nigerian clubs receiving international sanctions for contract violations regarding players and coaches.