One of Africa's most successful clubs, which has won two CAF Champions League titles, is on the brink of being relegated from their domestic top flight after being hit with a massive fine.
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Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko have less than a month to pay a $240 000 (R4.5 million) fine or risk being relegated to the country's second division, according to the BBC.
This comes after FIFA reached a final verdict on the club's legal battle with Tunisia's Esperance over the transfers of Emmanuel Clottey in 2015 and Kwame Bonsu in 2019.
The dispute initially arose when Asante signed Clottey as a free agent, which was disputed by Esperance, and then escalated again last year when the Tunisian side signed Bonsu from the Ghanaians and offset the amount owed.
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FIFA handed down a verdict earlier in the month in which it upheld an initial fine of $180 000 (R3.3 million), with the additional cost stemming from interest and the governing body's legal fees, and set a deadline of 10 May 2020 for payment.
"We have no option than to comply and pay the fine of $240 000," Kennedy Boakye Ansah, the Ghanaian club's communications director, said.
"We wanted to settle for a barter agreement but we did not hear anything from Esperance. So we have to go ahead and pay our fine. The payment will be made to Esperance. FIFA has $15 000 for their legal fees."
The club has since appealed to its supporters around the world to assist with raising the necessary funds in an attempt to avoid relegation.
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Asante Kotoko are seven-time CAF Champions League finalists and walked away with Africa's biggest club trophy in 1970 and 1983.
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