Heartland FC’s troubles have deepened as the world football governing body, FIFA, has imposed a global transfer ban on the Imo State-owned club over unpaid debts owed to former Ivorian midfielder N’goran Roland Adjoumani Koffi.
The ban, confirmed in a FIFA Disciplinary Committee letter dated October 3, 2025, comes after the Owerri-based club failed to comply with an earlier ruling ordering the payment of Koffi’s outstanding wages and entitlements.
The decision follows months of ignored deadlines and repeated reminders from FIFA. The world body has now barred Heartland from registering new players both locally and internationally until the full debt is cleared.
“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 signed by Americo Espallargas, FIFA’s Head of Disciplinary, stated.
FIFA Orders NFF to Enforce the Sanction
FIFA also directed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to ensure the ban is strictly enforced across all Nigerian football structures, meaning Heartland cannot add any new signings to their squad in the Nigeria National League (NNL) or elsewhere until compliance is achieved.
If the debt remains unsettled, the restriction could last for as long as three transfer windows, a major blow for a club already struggling to rebuild following their relegation from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) last season.
Mounting Financial Crisis at Heartland
The ruling adds to Heartland’s mounting financial woes. Beyond the Koffi case, the NFF Players’ Status and Arbitration Committee (PSAC) has also ordered the club to pay outstanding entitlements to several former players, including Umah Johnson, Esobe Chukwudi, Ugochukwu Leonard, and Ezekiel Bassey.
Football analysts say the development paints a worrying picture of financial mismanagement within Nigerian clubs, with Heartland joining the growing list of teams sanctioned by FIFA over contractual breaches involving players and coaches.
The latest sanction also underscores FIFA’s resolve to enforce financial discipline and uphold the rights of professional footballers worldwide.
“This is not just about Heartland; it’s a warning to all clubs that player contracts must be honoured,” a sports governance expert told Otown Gist News.
As things stand, the club’s inability to register new players could derail its hopes of returning to top-flight football — unless urgent action is taken to settle the debts and lift the ban.
