Gor Mahia dismisses transfer ban, insists payment to ex-player was cleared on time

Gor mahia players celebrate Patrick Kaddu's goal (courtesy image)

FOOTBALL Gor Mahia dismisses transfer ban, insists payment to ex-player was cleared on time

Joel Omotto 07:34 - 29.02.2024

Gor Mahia have written back to FIFA to request the revocation of their transfer ban, insisting outstanding dues to ex-goalkeeper Adama Keita were paid before the deadline.

Gor Mahia have dismissed the latest transfer ban imposed on the club by world football governing body FIFA over delayed payment of dues owed to former player Adama Keita, saying there is no outstanding balance.

The latest development come from an order by FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber in January to K’Ogalo to finalise payments owed to Keita or risk another transfer ban.

Gor Mahia were ordered to pay Ksh2.4 million for delaying the initial final payment amounting to Ksh2.3 million as directed by FIFA due to a contract breach.

Additionally, the club had to pay an 18 per cent interest on the delayed amount from May 1, 2023, until the settlement date.

Failure to fulfill this within 45 days would result in a transfer ban and it appeared Gor Mahia had not met their end of the deal, leading to the ban.

However, the club insists they are innocent this time as the outstanding dues were cleared this month.

“We cleared the fine by February 15 and I am not sure what the issue is,” Gor Mahia CEO Raymond Oruo told Pulse Sports.

“We are not even worried because according to the ruling on January 9, we have paid. We cleared the 18 per cent interest and the contractual delayed pay by February 15 which was before the 45-day deadline.”

Keita, who signed a two-year contract at Gor Mahia in August 2021, severed ties with the club in July of the following year, citing a breach of contract after he had been frozen from the squad before eventually being axed.

During the time, the club had delayed his pay and he filed a case at FIFA two months before his departure after which the global body ruled in his favour in November of that year, awarding him $30,544 in compensation, including five percent interest.

Gor Mahia were given 45 days to clear the payment or face a ban which eventually came when they did not meet the deadline.

However, in March 2023, a payment plan was agreed and K’Ogalo had their ban lifted after Keita was paid $16,000 with the remaining $14,544 to be cleared by the end of April 2023.

There was a caveat for Gor Mahia, however, that stated a 50 per cent penalty ($15,272) in case the payment was not made as agreed, and with the club failing to honour the agreement, Keita sought FIFA’s help yet again, claiming the balance and the penalty.

Oruo, however, feels the latest development could be due to wrong advice the Malian goalkeeper is receiving from his representatives and also taking advantage of the way FIFA acts on such matters.

“I think it is a miscommunication by the claimant. The $15,000 that was delayed for two months we paid and we do not know what is it he asking for again,” added the Gor Mahia CEO.

“The problem is with FIFA, once the claimant writes that we have not paid, they act first and then you have to prove your case. However, on our side, this file was closed yesterday [Tuesday].

“We have written to FIFA and the federation this evening [Wednesday] to find out where the problem is.”

Keita has caused Gor Mahia plenty of problems in recent years as he is the one who messed up their CAF Champions League plans heading into this season when he insisted the club had not cleared his dues last July, leading to the revocation of K’Ogalo’s Club License.

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