Taylor was dismissed by the association early last year after undergoing what she termed a grossly unfair disciplinary hearing. She was accused of overspending more than P6 million meant for FIFA projects. This week, the Industrial Court concurred with Taylor that her dismissal from the association was "substantively and procedurally" unfair. Justice Anna Petje of the Industrial Court awarded the former CEO P330,000 as compensation and ordered that the money should have been paid by March 28, 2023. The amount is the equivalent of Taylor’s six months’ basic salary, which excludes allowances. The court found that Taylor was being victimised as there was overspending at the association well before her appointment. “It is evident from the respondent’s case that the alleged over-expenditure was traced from way before the applicant was employed by the respondent and in fact, even a month into her contract of employment, there was overspending and it cannot be blamed on her,” Justice Petje said in the ruling. Taylor joined the BFA in May 2021. The judge further averred that the association was not even aware of the exact amount Taylor overspent, something that weakened its case.
“The initial charge bore the figure P6,303,365.50 and when the hearing resumed on January 27th, 2022, the figure was adjusted to P6,092,199.94 on the date of the disciplinary hearing. Before this court again the amount was again altered to P4 million. This shows that there was no case against the applicant and her dismissal was substantively unfair,” the judge added.
