Dubai: Al Nasr are due €4.5 million (Dh22.5million) in compensation after their former player Esmail Bangoura was ruled to have breached his contract with the Dubai club when he joined French second division side Nantes last January.
Fifa’s Dispute Resolution Chamber ruled that Nantes induced Bangoura to commit a breach of his contract and have barred the club from registering new players for one year until January 31 2014. They have also suspended Guinean striker Bangoura, 28, for four months, although he’s already served three months of that ban.
Nantes and Bangoura are now jointly liable to pay Al Nasr €4.5 million in compensation plus five per cent interest. They can appeal the decision.
Bangoura, now on loan with Qatar’s Umm Salal, joined Al Nasr in September 2010 but left in December 2011 after entering into agreement with Nantes. He scored 17 goals from 31 league and cup appearances and was widely admired for his contribution that led the club to third in the table from tenth.
The sanction on Nantes, who are currently three points clear at the top of the second division, could jeopardise their bid for promotion and consequent survival in the first division next season if they go up.
A statement from Al Nasr, currently fifth in the Etisalat Pro-League, read: “Al Nasr is pleased with the decision, which has been taken by Fifa, which reaffirms the fundamental principle that contracts must be respected.
“Al Nasr hopes that this precedent shall encourage a fair cooperation between all clubs and will improve their knowledge and respect of the ethical rules and their compliance with the Fifa regulations.”
