Notwane press ahead with Gunners matter
Larona Makhaiza | Saturday June 25, 2022 06:00
Notwane argue Gunners were not supposed to register players after a FIFA ban following unpaid debt to former player, Kudzanani Machazani. Toronto want the league nullified or points deducted from Gunners.
In a letter dated June 15, 2022 addressed to the BFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mfolo Mfolo, Notwane secretary-general, Kealeboga Moeng urged the mother body to act on the matter. “This correspondence serves as a formal complaint pertaining to the registration of players by Extension Gunners during the 2021-2022 season.
It has come to our attention (and documents shared) that the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber ordered Extension Gunners on October 14, 2020, not to register players (registration ban), particularly during the said period," Moeng wrote in the letter.
"The registration ban applied to registration, loaning, and transfer of players from the date of the decision until full payment. As at the 2021-2022 season, Gunners had failed to pay as ordered and the ban is in place and effective," he added. Moeng said Gunners was therefore in breach of the registration ban and they registered, loaned and transferred players during the season in question.
"The registration, which occurred at the beginning of the season and during the January window, meant that the affected players were improperly registered. This as a result prejudiced the clubs that observed the transfer registration like ourselves. The said club was aware of the ban and its decision to register players contrary to the FIFA ban was deliberate and punishable.
The BFA was also aware of the ban but in disregard of the FIFA ban, facilitated the illegality," Moeng said. "We, therefore, request the football league to immediately establish and verify the contents of this letter and refer the issue to appropriate bodies for action and felt that it is their conviction that they are entitled to points lost to Gunners as a result.
This illegal registration of players has compromised the integrity of the competition,” Moeng said. But Mfolo said the BFA had not received Notwane's letter. “We have not received any letter of complaint from Notwane,” Mfolo said.
The Botswana Football League (BFL) CEO, Solomon Ramochotlhwane distanced the organ from the issue. "Kindly get in touch with the BFA on the matter. Rona re le BFL we only run professional league. Issues of player registration and club licensing are with BFA," Ramochotlhwane said.