Heartland FC of Owerri have been handed a switch ban by world soccer governing physique FIFA over unfulfilled monetary obligations, Sports247 experiences.
Heartland are indebted to former Ivorian midfielder, N’goran Roland Adjoumani Koffi and did not adjust to earlier ruling by the World physique.
In a letter dated October 3, 2025, FIFA confirmed that Heartland did not adjust to an earlier ruling (Ref. no. FPSD-19817) ordering the membership to pay the participant his excellent entitlements.
The choice adopted a protracted contractual dispute that had dragged on for months regardless of a number of reminders and deadlines.
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee consequently imposed an instantaneous ban stopping Heartland from registering new gamers each nationally and internationally.
The sanction, signed by Americo Espallargas, FIFA’s Head of Disciplinary, will stay in place till the membership clears its money owed in full.
In line with the letter, if the excellent cost isn’t settled promptly, the restriction may final for as much as three total and consecutive registration durations.
FIFA additional directed the Nigeria Soccer Federation (NFF) to implement the sanction domestically, guaranteeing Heartland can not register any new gamers within the Nigerian league system till full compliance is achieved.
“The registration ban will stay lively till the quantity due is paid and for a most length of as much as three total and consecutive registration durations,” the correspondence emphasised.
This newest growth represents a big setback for the Owerri-based facet.
Heartland are presently trying to rebuild their squad after being relegated from the Nigeria Premier Soccer League (NPFL) to the Nigeria Nationwide League (NNL) final season.
The ban successfully means Heartland will likely be unable to strengthen their group forward of the 2024/2025 NNL season until they adjust to FIFA’s directive.
Along with the FIFA order, the NFF Gamers’ Standing and Arbitration Committee (PSAC) has additionally directed Heartland to pay excellent entitlements to former gamers Umah Johnson, Esobe Chukwudi, Ugochukwu Leonard, Ezekiel Bassey, and 4 others.
This sanction underscores FIFA’s renewed dedication to implementing monetary self-discipline amongst golf equipment and defending gamers’ rights worldwide.
It additionally provides to the rising record of Nigerian golf equipment going through worldwide penalties for contractual breaches involving gamers and coaches.
