Gabon: US Bitam risk relegation after FIFA transfer ban crisis

Gabon National Foot 1 side Union Sportive de Bitam (US Bitam) risks relegation after only six matchdays, according to Gabonese Association of Professional Football Clubs (ACPF) president Landry Joseph Nkeyi Rebonguinaud. The club’s home game against AS Mangasport was halted before kickoff by the match commissioner after a FIFA transfer ban affected the home side.

 

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According to Gabonese state-owned publication L’Union, the match commissioner, Gervais Bekalet, decided to cancel the match before kickoff after only six US Bitam players were legally registered to play the tie.

FIFA banned US Bitam and AS Dikaki from making new transfers due to unpaid player wages from previous seasons. The ban automatically prevents the clubs from recruiting new players until the owed amounts are settled with the affected players.

Rebonguinaud stated that if the situation is not resolved soon, US Bitam could be relegated without kicking a ball this season.

“The club had been banned from recruiting by FIFA due to unpaid salaries from previous seasons. This situation is already detrimental to the club, which, if not resolved, risks relegation. In addition to the disruption to the championship, we came to see how to find a solution to this problem, which is penalizing both the club and the players. Our concerns have been taken into account by the Linafp (National Automated Professional Football League), and we will see how, together, we can find a solution.”

US Bitam criticized the league’s authorities for failing to communicate the FIFA transfer ban. The club stated that they only found out about the ban through a social media post. US Bitam further noted that the issue dates back eight years, when former Cameroon legend François Omam-Biyik was head coach of the club. Some players during Biyik’s tenure filed complaints with FIFA over salary arrears.