By Edward Oseghe
World football governing body, FIFA, has imposed a transfer ban on Heartland Football Club of Owerri over the club’s failure to pay outstanding wages owed to their former midfielder, N’goran Roland Adjoumani Koffi of Ivory Coast.
According to a letter from FIFA dated October 3, 2025, and signed by the organisation’s Head of Disciplinary, Americo Espallargas, the sanction follows Heartland’s non-compliance with a previous ruling (Ref. No. FPSD-19817) ordering the club to settle the player’s entitlements.
The decision comes after months of unresolved contractual disputes, repeated reminders, and missed payment deadlines from the world body.
As part of the disciplinary measures, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee has barred Heartland from registering new players—both locally and internationally—until all debts owed to Koffi are fully paid.
“The registration ban will remain active until the amount due is paid and for a maximum duration of up to three entire and consecutive registration periods,” the letter stated.
FIFA has further instructed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to ensure that the sanction is fully enforced within the domestic football structure. Consequently, the Owerri-based club will be unable to register any new players in the Nigeria National League (NNL) until compliance is achieved.
The development represents a major blow to Heartland FC, which was relegated from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) last season and has been attempting to rebuild its squad ahead of the 2024/2025 NNL campaign.
With the ban in effect, the club’s recruitment plans face serious disruption unless management urgently resolves the financial impasse.
Meanwhile, the NFF Players’ Status and Arbitration Committee (PSAC) has also ordered Heartland to pay arrears owed to several former players, including Umah Johnson, Esobe Chukwudi, Ugochukwu Leonard, and Ezekiel Bassey, among others.
