Heartland FC of Owerri has been handed a transfer ban by FIFA, the world football governing body, due to unfulfilled financial obligations, platinumnewsng.com is reporting
The club owes money to former Ivorian midfielder N’goran Roland Adjoumani Koffi and has failed to comply with FIFA’s earlier ruling regarding this matter.
In a letter dated October 3, 2025, FIFA confirmed that Heartland did not adhere to an earlier ruling (Ref. no. FPSD-19817) that mandated the club pay the player his outstanding entitlements. This decision follows a lengthy contractual dispute that persisted despite multiple reminders and deadlines.
As a result, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee has imposed an immediate ban preventing Heartland from registering new players, both nationally and internationally. This sanction, signed by Americo Espallargas, FIFA’s Head of Disciplinary, will remain in effect until the club settles its debts in full.
According to the letter, if the outstanding payment is not resolved promptly, the ban could last for up to three consecutive registration periods. FIFA has also ordered the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to enforce this ban domestically, ensuring that Heartland cannot register any new players in the Nigerian league system until full compliance is achieved.
“The registration ban will remain active until the amount due is paid, and it could last for a maximum of three consecutive registration periods,” the correspondence emphasised.
This situation represents a significant setback for the Owerri-based side. Heartland is currently trying to rebuild its squad after being relegated from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) to the Nigeria National League (NNL) last season. The ban means the club will be unable to strengthen its team ahead of the 2024/2025 NNL season unless it complies with FIFA’s directive.
In addition to FIFA’s order, the NFF Players’ Status and Arbitration Committee (PSAC) has also directed Heartland to pay outstanding entitlements to former players Umah Johnson, Esobe Chukwudi, Ugochukwu Leonard, Ezekiel Bassey, and four others.
This sanction highlights FIFA’s renewed commitment to enforcing financial discipline among clubs and protecting players’ rights worldwide. It also adds to the growing list of Nigerian clubs facing international penalties for breaches of contract involving players and coaches.