Heartland FC and Abia Warriors FC could soon face disciplinary action from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over their failure to comply with rulings and settlement agreements issued by the Players’ Status Arbitration Committee (PSAC).
Both clubs have been reported to the NFF Disciplinary Committee for defaulting on financial agreements with former players, stemming from PSAC decisions made in June 2024.
Heartland FC’s Case
Heartland FC reached a formal settlement on October 14, 2024, with players Chukwude Stephen, Momoh Peter, Itodo Ocheme, Aputazie Leonard, and Ezekiel Bassey. The agreement, which outlined a structured payment plan beginning in November 2024, has allegedly been breached. The club is accused of deliberately defaulting on monthly payments as stipulated in Clause 2 of the agreement.
As of April 2025, the outstanding debt has ballooned to ₦23 million. The affected players have since submitted a formal petition to the NFF Disciplinary Committee, demanding enforcement of the settlement and sanctions against Heartland FC.
Abia Warriors’ Case
Similarly, players Alegbe Victor, Ikedinachi Nwakanma, and Obinna Julius—represented by Myron Top Class Sports Outfit—have accused Abia Warriors FC of failing to fulfil a ₦12 million payment mandated by PSAC in June 2024. While the club initially paid ₦6 million, it has reportedly ceased further payments and communication.
The players have now escalated the issue to the NFF Disciplinary Committee, seeking intervention.
Possible Consequences Under FIFA Rules
Under Article 21 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, clubs that fail to comply with financial or non-financial decisions issued by a competent body may face a range of sanctions. These include fines, payment deadlines, and interest penalties of up to 18% annually on outstanding sums. National federations like the NFF are empowered to enforce these penalties.
With both clubs now facing scrutiny from the NFF Disciplinary Committee, failure to resolve their obligations could result in heavy sanctions in accordance with FIFA’s global disciplinary framework.
