CAS Dismiss Chiefs Appeal

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has finally confirmed the outcome of Kaizer Chiefs' appeal against the FIFA ban handed down earlier this year.

In a brief statement on its website, the sports tribunal body dismissed Chiefs' request to have the sanction overturned!

That means Amakhosi cannot register player players during the current transfer window and the next one in February…the only time this is possible is July 1, 2021. 

"The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued its decision in the appeal filed by the Malagasy player Andriamirado Aro Hasina Andrianarimanana(the Player) and the South African club Kaizer Chiefs FC (collectively, the Appellants), against the decision rendered by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) on 5 December 2019(the Challenged Decision).

In such decision, the FIFA DRC noted that the Player and Kaizer Chiefs entered into a new contract when the Player was still under contract with Fosa JuniorsFC/Madagascar. Given these circumstances, the FIFA DRC concluded that the Player unilaterally terminated the Employment Contract with Fosa Juniors Without just cause.

As a consequence, the Player was ordered, together with Kaizer Chiefs FC, to jointly and severally pay a compensation of MGA 157'572'000 (approx. USD 40'000) to Fosa Juniors FC.

In addition, a four-month period of ineligibility was imposed on the Player, and Kaizer Chiefs FC was banned from registering any new players either nationally or internationally for two entire and consecutive registration periods. The CAS Panel in charge of this matter has dismissed the appeal and confirmed the Challenged Decision in its entirety." 

This is a major blow for Amakhosi, who now have to try challenge for titles with the same squad as last season despite having held talks with a few players to bring them on board at Naturena. 

Coach Gavin Hunt said he agreed to his recent three-year contract well aware of the situation and had been working as though the FIFA ban would not be overtuned.