FIFA bans Yanga again from recruiting new players
What you need to know:
- Besides Yanga, other clubs that FIFA has also banned from recruiting new players are Singida Fountain Gate FC and Tabora United.
Dar es Salaam. The world football governing body, FIFA, has banned Young Africans (Yanga) and two other Mainland Tanzania clubs for violating player regulations.
Besides Yanga, other clubs that FIFA has also banned from recruiting new players are Singida Fountain Gate FC and Tabora United.
Also included are FGA Talents and Biashara United from the Championship division.
However, the statement did not specify the players who have lodged complaints against the clubs over unpaid dues.
The clubs have failed to make payments to players whose contracts they terminated, as per the rules and regulations.
According to a previous statement from the TFF, the clubs are required to pay accordingly; otherwise, they will not be allowed to recruit new players for the next league seasons.
For Yanga, this means they will not be able to field new players for both the Mainland Tanzania Premier League season and the CAF Champions League.
However, a Yanga official has said that they have already paid the players and are just waiting for the release.
“We have paid the players, and we are sure we will soon be released and allowed to recruit players,” said the official.
Not Yanga's first FIFA ban
FIFA’s decision against Yanga is not uncommon. The Jangwani Street giants were previously sanctioned by FIFA for failing to meet financial obligations to their former head coach, Luc Eymael.
The sanction was imposed after Yanga had been ordered to pay coach Eymael $148,000 (Sh346 million) for unfair dismissal in 2020, but they failed to fulfill their obligations.
In December 2023, Yanga was also embroiled in another payment dispute with their former player, Gael Bigirimana, who took his case to FIFA demanding unpaid wages after the termination of his contract, resulting in the club being handed another ban.
Aside from the ban on signing players, FIFA ordered the Tanzanian giants to pay Bigirimana within 45 days after the verdict was reached. The club complied, and the transfer ban was lifted.
