FIFA has banned Sudanese club Al Merriekh from registering any new players for two transfer windows due to non-payment of financial dues they owe to Al Hilal in the case of three players: Ramadan Ajab, Mohamed Al-Rasheed, and Bakhet Khamis.
The ban was imposed by FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) on September 1, 2023. Al Merriekh has the right to appeal the decision to FIFA’s Appeals Committee.
The case dates back to 2019, when Al Hilal sold the three players to Al Merriekh. However, Al Merriekh failed to pay the full transfer fee, and Al Hilal filed a complaint with FIFA.
In its decision, the DRC found that Al Merriekh had breached FIFA’s regulations on the transfer of players. The DRC also found that Al Merriekh had not cooperated with the investigation.
The ban will prevent Al Merriekh from registering any new players for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons. The ban will also affect Al Merriekh’s participation in the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup.
The ban is a major setback for Al Merriekh, who are one of the most successful clubs in Sudan. The club has won the Sudanese Premier League 17 times and the CAF Champions League twice.
The ban is also a reminder of the importance of clubs paying their debts to other clubs. FIFA has a zero-tolerance policy for clubs that do not comply with its regulations.
