FIFA bans Egyptian club from player transfers after assault against Nigerian player

Aswan SC of Egypt has received a two-window transfer ban as punishment for physically assaulting Raphael Ayagwa in 2023. The FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) also ordered the club to pay Ayagwa his outstanding wages.

Ayagwa was said to have terminated his contract with Aswan SC back in 2023 after the club detained him unlawfully and physically attacked him for refusing to sign an Arabic written document following the club’s relegation from the Egyptian topflight league at the end of 2022/23 season.

The 26-year-old consequently terminated his contract with the club upon his return to Nigeria on the basis of “just cause,” according to Article 14 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.

Upon intervention, the FIFA DRC ruled in support of Ayagwa, enforcing Aswan SC to recoup the player’s unpaid wages and compensate him duly for the early termination of his contract; whilst imposing a ban for two transfer windows on the Egyptian club.

Today, February 14, 2024, FIFPRO has upheld the decision of the FIFA DRC to enforce full compensation of Ayagwa’s unpaid wages and the transfer ban on Aswan SC.

Reacting to this development, the midfielder said, “I want to thank FIFPRO Africa for their help and professionalism during a very unfortunate and difficult period of my career.

“I’m glad justice is served and hope that this judgment will serve as a lesson and deterrent to other clubs.”

Raphael Ayagwa’s career overview

The Benue-born footballer between 2016-2017 represented Nigeria Professional League (NPFL) side Lobi Stars, before moving to Plateau United for the 2017-2018 season.

He moved to Norwegian side Lillestrøm on 15 August 2018, but didn’t spend up to a year after his contract was mutually terminated on 25 June 2019.

Ayagwa then returned to Nigeria where he represented Lobi Stars between 2019 -2020 and 2021-2020, spending the 2020-2021 season at United Soccer League side FC Tulsa.

The midfielder joined Aswan SC in 2022 before he had to terminate his contract. He now dons the shirt of Al-Hilal Benghazi, after joining the Libyan Premier League side on October 9, 2023.