FIFA ban a minor hurdle as result of misinformation - Tim Sukazi

News that Galaxy would not be able to register players over the next three windows broke on Monday night, after Kouassi took the club to the world football governing body over their failure to honour a contract. 

The 29-year-old is reported to have signed for the DStv Premiership side in January last year, but left Galaxy without playing an official match. 

"We were looking for a striker at the time and this is the player we identified. But when we tried to get him registered we could not get his international clearance on TMS [transfer matching system] and the window closed,” Sukazi explained SABC Sport.

"The contract was subject to two conditions – first getting him a work permit and then being able to get our hands on the clearance. I feel like we were swindled, but we will pay the money so we can sign players."

According to the ruling by FIFA, the player is owed an amount in the region of R1.8-million, and only once Galaxy have paid will the sanction be lifted. 

“I am not sure what we were dealing with here. There are players who seem to make a career out of being able to get away with this sort of behaviour and then take clubs to FIFA expecting the outcome to go in their favour,” the chairman added.     

Sukazi revealed the club spent R40 000 on securing a work permit for Kouassi in a desperate effort to beef up the squad for coach Sead Ramovic in the second half of the 2022/23 season. 

The public broadcaster has seen letters pleading with the Indian Football Federation to furnish FIFA with accurate information over the saga, considering the previous club the forward played for was Sporting Club Bengaluru. 

But it would appear the request fell flat, with the world football governing body going ahead and handing Galaxy the transfer ban, with Sukazi lamenting the process. 

“With all due respect, I feel like there was a lot that was left unchecked. We spent weeks and communicated as best as we can. We got SAFA involved, but when the January deadline passed for us, it meant the contract would not be valid. He never had a clearance. But we will pay [in order to sign] and register players,” he concluded.

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