FIFA warns clubs on resort to the law courts

Accra, March 02, GNA - FIFA, the world football governing body has tasked all national associations to remind their members that recourse to the ordinary courts of law to settle matters concerning the game is strictly prohibited.

In a letter dated February 17 and signed by Urs Linsi, General Secretary of FIFA said it has therefore asked the associations to remind its members of this provision in order to ensure that this principle was respected at all times.

The letter said FIFA's Disciplinary Committee in accordance with Article 63 of the FIFA status would punish any violation of this provision.

An Extraordinary FIFA Congress in Doha, United Arab Eremites, approved this new provision regarding arbitration on October 19, 2003 and it came into force on January 1, 2004.

Article 61 of the new statute obliges FIFA member associations to insert a clause in their regulations stipulating that appeals against a decision or sanction imposed in the final instance by a FIFA judicial body, confederation, member or league may only be heard before the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

The letter continued that such grievances could also be heard before an independent arbitration tribunal correctly constituted within a confederation or association and not recourse to ordinary law courts.

The Ghana Football Association is currently saddled with about three court cases regarding the relegation of clubs from the premier league.

This came about when the GFA decided to re-award Obuasi Goldfields 12 points it had earlier deducted from their accumulated points after the latter resorted to the law courts and the court declared the deduction of their points as illegal.