Hoang Anh Gia Lai football club is currently facing the risk of a transfer ban due to a dispute involving their former foreign player, Martin Dzilah. The situation emerged after the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) ruled in favor of Dzilah, who had filed a complaint against Hoang Anh Gia Lai following the termination of his contract.
Dzilah, who joined the Pleiku-based club in October 2023, played only three matches (225 minutes) before Hoang Anh Gia Lai decided to part ways with him due to his underwhelming performances and a long-term injury. Following the termination, the two sides initially agreed on a compensation fee of $20,000, which Dzilah accepted and signed. However, the Ghanaian player later changed his stance, rejecting the amount and filing a complaint against the club with FIFA.
On June 28, FIFA instructed both parties to provide relevant documents and evidence via their legal portal before July 18 to resolve the dispute. Despite this, Hoang Anh Gia Lai reportedly responded late, leading to FIFA’s final decision on August 30, which ruled in favor of Dzilah. The club is now required to compensate the player with an increased sum of $29,000, along with accrued interest.
Hoang Anh Gia Lai must pay the amount within 45 days to avoid facing a potential transfer ban, which would prevent them from registering new players. The ruling has raised concerns about the club’s ability to manage future transfers.
Speaking with Vietnam Sports News, the head of Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s football department expressed his views on the situation: “Hoang Anh Gia Lai has always complied with the regulations of the Vietnam Football Federation and FIFA. We believe in transparency and fairness when contracts end, and we followed both the rules and the laws of Vietnam. I’m not sure why Martin Dzilah took this action, but I trust that FIFA will carefully review our appeal.”
Despite the looming threat, Hoang Anh Gia Lai has made an impressive start to the 2024/2025 V-League season. In their opening match, the team secured a commanding 4-0 victory over Quang Nam, placing them at the top of the league standings.
The outcome of this legal battle remains critical for Hoang Anh Gia Lai as they seek to maintain their strong performance on the field while navigating the potential off-field consequences from this dispute.
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