FIFA has taken punitive action against Hearts of Oak by imposing a transfer ban due to the club’s failure to settle an outstanding debt of $14,002 owed to their former coach, Slavko Matic.
This decision by the international football governing body has also mandated the Ghana Football Association to enforce the ban at the national level.
The dispute traces its origins back to March 2023 when Serbian coach Slavko Matic was abruptly dismissed from his position. His departure occurred amid a tumultuous period, marked by irate supporters confronting him during a training session.
Following these events, Matic formally lodged a complaint with the Ghana Police, citing concerns for his personal safety. In response, Hearts of Oak expressed their inability to guarantee the coach’s security.
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In light of these developments, Matic escalated the matter to FIFA, resulting in a verdict issued in July of the same year. FIFA ruled in favor of Matic, instructing Hearts of Oak to compensate their former coach with the sum of $14,002 for the breach of his contract.
However, Hearts of Oak have not complied with FIFA’s directive, leading to the imposition of the transfer ban by the international body. This embargo is already in effect, prohibiting the club from registering new players until they fulfill their financial obligation to Matic.
