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CAS dismisses Yanga’s appeal over Postponed derby
What you need to know:
- The tribunal also ruled that the CHF 1,000 (approximately Sh3.3million) paid by Yanga as a court filing fee would not be refunded.
Dar es Salaam. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed an appeal filed by Tanzania’s Young Africans Sports Club (Yanga), which sought to be awarded three points and three goals following the postponement of their highly anticipated NBC Premier League clash against arch-rivals Simba SC.
The match was originally scheduled for March 8, 2025, at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
However, it was postponed by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) and the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB), citing serious concerns over safety, security, and integrity.
Yanga strongly opposed the decision and filed an appeal to CAS, arguing that the postponement was unjustified and that they should be awarded the match by default.
However, CAS issued a ruling on May 1, 2025, declaring that it has no jurisdiction over the matter and removed the case from its docket.
According to the decision, issued by CAS Deputy President Elisabeth Steiner, the world's top sports judicial body concluded that it “manifestly has no jurisdiction to decide on the matter.”
The tribunal also ruled that the CHF 1,000 (approximately Sh3.3million) paid by Yanga as a court filing fee would not be refunded.
CAS based its ruling on several procedural and legal grounds. Chief among them was Yanga’s failure to cite any valid regulation or legal provision that would give CAS the authority to hear the case.
The tribunal also sided with TFF’s position that no official decision had been made in favor of any of the respondents—namely TFF, TPLB, or Simba SC—that would warrant an appeal to CAS.
In its written submission dated April 12, 2025, the TFF laid out multiple reasons why Yanga’s appeal was inadmissible.
The federation explained that the decision to postpone the match was made in the interest of public safety and competition integrity, and that the matter was still under investigation at the domestic level.
Additionally, the TFF stressed that it does not interfere with the day-to-day operational decisions of the TPLB and, therefore, should not have been named as a respondent in the case.
The federation further noted that Yanga had not exhausted all domestic legal remedies available under Articles 25 and 26 of the Premier League Regulations, making the appeal to CAS both premature and procedurally flawed.
Moreover, the TFF argued that the disciplinary actions sought by Yanga did not fall within CAS’s jurisdiction. Instead, such matters should have been directed to continental or global football governing bodies like CAF or FIFA.
Yanga vs Simba match on
Following the CAS verdict, the Tanzania Premier League Board issued an official statement confirming that the league will proceed as scheduled. The board said it would continue all preparations for the 2024/2025 NBC Premier League season, including setting a new date for the rescheduled Yanga vs Simba match.
"We welcome the CAS ruling and wish to inform all stakeholders that we are continuing with our responsibilities to ensure the smooth running of the league. This includes arranging a new date for the Yanga versus Simba fixture, which remains one of the most important matches in our calendar," the TPLB statement read.
This update comes as a welcome relief to fans of both clubs and the broader Tanzanian football community, who have been eagerly anticipating the Kariakoo Derby.
Widely regarded as the biggest and most fiercely contested football match in Tanzania, the derby draws nationwide attention and is a highlight of the local football calendar.
Also read: Why Tanzania Football officials, others must be held accountable in Yanga, Simba derby flop
While Yanga’s legal attempt to win the match off the pitch has failed, attention now shifts back to the field of play.
With the CAS ruling settled and the TPLB committed to rescheduling the match, the stage is once again set for a thrilling showdown between the country’s two football powerhouses.
