FARPost has established that the Betway Premiership side Richards Bay FC have been slapped with a FIFA transfer ban for failing to pay their former defender Abdi Hassan Banda.
Banda spent one season with the Natal Rich Boys after signing on a free transfer at the start of the 2023/24 campaign following his exit from Chippa United.
The Tanzanian centre-back struggled for playing time during his spell with the KwaZulu-Natal side, making just eight appearances across all competitions before his departure in June 2024.
The 29-year-old went on to join the Motsepe Foundation Championship outfit Baroka FC prior to returning to his native Tanzania, signing for Dojoma Jiji FC.
As previously reported by this publication in December, Banda turned to the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber over non-payment of his salaries by Richards Bay.
FIFA then instructed that the club pays the outstanding amount to the player or incur a transfer ban.
The Zululand-based club still appear to have not fulfilled their financial obligations to Banda. Now, a FIFA ruling, seen by FARPost, indicates that an international transfer ban for three registration periods has been imposed on Richards Bay.
FIFA has also instructed the South African Football Association [SAFA] to enforce a domestic transfer ban on the Betway Premiership club, preventing them from registering local players.
WHY RICHARDS BAY WERE HANDED A TRANSFER BAN
“In this context, it appears that, despite the decision, Richards Bay [the Respondent] has not complied with its financial obligations towards Abdi Hassan Banda,” stated FIFA ruling.
“In this regard, we wish to inform the parties that a ban from registering new players internationally has been implemented by FIFA on the Respondent. The registration ban will remain active until the amount due is paid and for a maximum duration of up to three entire and consecutive registration periods.
“Lastly, the South African Football Association is requested to immediately implement on the Respondent a ban from registering new players at national level, if not done yet.”
Last year, Richards Bay had another transfer ban, which was overturned in June after they paid R230 000 that was owed to Kenyan winger Ovella Ochieng.
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