Accra Hearts of Oak have suffered a significant legal setback after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in favour of former player Francis Adjetey in a long-running financial dispute involving the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
In its ruling dated February 26, 2025, CAS ordered the club to pay GHC 106,477.42 to Adjetey, with 5% annual interest accrued from September 15, 2023, until the full amount is paid.
Additionally, Hearts of Oak and the GFA must jointly cover CHF 1,000 in legal costs.
This decision overturns the earlier ruling by the GFA Appeals Committee on February 26, 2024, which had dismissed Adjetey’s claims.
CAS found merit in the player's appeal and declared the arbitration process free of charge to him, further strengthening the precedent for player rights and fair compensation.
In a strong move to enforce compliance, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee stepped in on June 10, 2025, issuing a letter—signed by Americo Espallargas, Head of the Committee—warning the GFA and Hearts of Oak of financial sanctions.
If the outstanding amount is not paid within 30 days, 20% of Ghana’s next FIFA Forward installment will be withheld. Continued non-compliance would trigger additional 20% deductions and potentially escalate to further disciplinary measures.
This ruling places immense pressure on Hearts of Oak to resolve the matter promptly or risk financial and reputational consequences.
It also signals a firm stance by CAS and FIFA on contractual obligations and the protection of players’ financial entitlements—an increasingly crucial issue in Ghanaian football.
The club must now act swiftly to honour the decision or face escalating sanctions that could impact both their operations and the GFA’s development funding.
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