FIFA threatens Etoile Sportive du Sahel with registration ban due to Cameroonian club

Etoile Sportive du Sahel has received another blow on the financial and legal front, after FIFA mandated them to pay financial dues to Canon Sportif de Yaoundé following the transfer of player Jacques Amour Tanono Mbié, with the threat of being barred from registering new players for three consecutive transfer windows if the decision is not implemented.

Etoile Sportive du Sahel revealed in an official statement on Monday, November 9, 2026, that FIFA's dispute resolution chamber issued its decision on October 30, and notified the club on November 6, requiring it to pay $30,234 to the Cameroonian club, representing unpaid dues from a player transfer, along with $5,000 in legal fees to FIFA.

The decision also stipulated a late fee of 5% per annum on the outstanding amount, starting from April 23, 2026, until the actual payment date.

FIFA has granted the management of Etoile Sportive du Sahel a 45-day period, starting from the date of notification of the decision, to provide proof of full payment of dues. It warned of imposing a penalty that would prevent the registration of new players, both at the local and international levels, for three consecutive registration periods if the deadline is not met, with the possibility of referring the case to the Disciplinary Committee of the International Federation.

In a related context, the club's management indicated that the case was at the stage of announcing the ruling before the current management committee took over the administration of Etoile Sportive du Sahel, following the expiration of the warning period without settling the dues owed to the Cameroonian club.

The management confirmed that it is seriously monitoring various legal issues and files to protect the club's rights and interests and to avoid facing new penalties.