FIFA’s Disciplinary Chamber has fined Cameroon’s Football Federation, FECAFOOT 1,000 CHF (about 700,000 CFA francs) for failing to implement a ruling in favour of player Meuvungeu Alexy against Djiko FC.
This ruling is linked to Fecafoot’s failure to enforce a prior decision requiring Djiko FC to compensate Meuvungou Alexy, who was unjustly dismissed over a year ago.
The dispute began on June 2, 2023, when FIFA’s National Dispute Resolution Chamber (CNRL) ordered Djiko FC to pay Alexy 3.62 million FCFA (€5,546) for his wrongful termination. Despite this, the club, competing in Cameroon’s second division, has not fulfilled this obligation.
Fecafoot, responsible for ensuring compliance with FIFA’s directives, has faced criticism for similar failures. Earlier this year, it was reprimanded for not enforcing a payment order involving players Junior Godstine Folhe, Boris Oum Mananga, and Pierre Varèze Zang Ngayene, which resulted in further penalties.
The National Union of Cameroonian Footballers (Synafoc), led by former Indomitable Lions full-back Geremi Njitap, has been actively campaigning for players’ rights and fair pay. Njitap’s “Salary Barometer” initiative has highlighted the ongoing issue of unpaid wages for local players, garnering support from the International Federation of Professional Footballers’ Associations (FIFPro).
The recent sanction against Fecafoot underscores the persistent challenges in Cameroonian football, particularly the need for timely payments to players. FIFA’s decision serves as a crucial reminder to both Fecafoot and the clubs under its jurisdiction about the importance of upholding players’ rights and adhering to international rulings.