Hearts of Oak Ordered to Pay Francis Adjetey as GFA Moves to Avoid FIFA Sanctions
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has issued a final directive to Accra Hearts of Oak to settle a long-standing financial obligation to former player Francis Adjetey, following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The move comes after FIFA warned the GFA of impending sanctions, including the withholding of 20% of its next FIFA Forward instalment, due to failure to comply with the CAS ruling.
CAS Ruling and GFA’s Enforcement Measures
On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, the GFA’s Disciplinary Committee ordered Hearts of Oak to pay GHS 106,477.42 to Adjetey by July 7, 2025, along with 5% interest per annum from September 15, 2023, until the full amount is paid. The club must also pay CHF 1,000 to cover the player’s legal costs, as initially ordered by CAS.
In addition, the club was fined GHS 20,000 for non-compliance with the original ruling within the specified timeframe.
The GFA warned that failure to comply will trigger an automatic transfer ban, effective both domestically and internationally, which will remain in place until the full debt is cleared.
FIFA Threatens GFA with Sanctions
The decision follows a letter dated June 3, 2025, from FIFA’s Legal and Compliance Division, which accused the GFA of breaching Article 21 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code by not enforcing the CAS decision.
FIFA proposed a financial sanction—withholding 20% of the next FIFA Forward funds—and signalled that continued non-compliance could lead to further punitive measures, including referral to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
The world football governing body gave the GFA a final 30-day deadline to either comply or submit a formal response with supporting documentation. A lack of response would lead to the sanction becoming final and binding.
GFA Reacts to Avert Further Fallout
The GFA’s directive to Hearts of Oak is widely seen as an effort to align with FIFA’s warning and avoid jeopardising its international standing and funding.
By enforcing the CAS decision, the GFA seeks to demonstrate commitment to good governance and regulatory compliance, amid growing pressure from global football authorities.
The outcome of this situation could have broader implications for club governance and dispute resolution enforcement in Ghanaian football.
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