Accra Hearts of Oak have been dealt a major legal blow after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in favour of former player Francis Adjetey in a financial dispute against the club and the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
In a decision dated February 26, 2025, CAS upheld Adjetey’s appeal against the ruling of the GFA Appeals Committee and ordered Hearts of Oak to pay the player GHC 106,477.42, along with 5% annual interest backdated to September 15, 2023, until full payment is made. Additionally, Hearts and the GFA were directed to jointly pay CHF 1,000 in legal costs to Adjetey.
The judgment effectively nullified the earlier decision made by the GFA Appeals Committee on February 26, 2024, which had not gone in the player’s favour. The tribunal, led by Sole Arbitrator Victor Bonnin Reynés, also confirmed that the arbitration procedure would be free of charge to Adjetey.
To enforce the CAS ruling, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee stepped in with a letter dated June 10, 2025, informing the GFA that the ruling is now final and binding under Article 58 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
In the letter signed by Americo Espallargas, Head of FIFA's Disciplinary Committee, FIFA instructed the respondent—presumed to be Hearts of Oak—to pay CHF 1,000 to Francis Adjetey as arbitration costs within 30 days.
FIFA warned that failure to comply would lead to the withholding of 20% of the next FIFA Forward installment due to the GFA until the debt is fully cleared. If the default continues, a further 20% of future installments would be withheld, and the matter may be referred back to the Disciplinary Committee for additional sanctions.
The case highlights FIFA and CAS’s growing emphasis on player rights and financial accountability within clubs, particularly in Ghana’s domestic football scene.
With the deadline ticking, Hearts of Oak now face both financial and reputational pressure to settle the outstanding payment and comply with international rulings.
Below is the letter from FIFA:
