Striker Martin Dzilah (top left) in a V. League match for Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Photo by Read/Minh Tran |
The global ban restricts HAGL from signing or loaning players, but the club retain the right to sell players or promote talents from their youth academy.
In October 2023, HAGL signed Dzilah, who appeared in three matches, totaling 225 minutes of play. However, the striker failed to make an impact and was released from his contract. The two parties agreed on compensation of $20,000, but Dzilah later claimed he didn’t receive the payment and filed a complaint with FIFA.
On June 28, FIFA requested relevant parties to submit documents to its dispute resolution chamber for review. On Aug. 30, FIFA ruled in Dzilah’s favor, ordering HAGL to pay $29,000, including interest. The club was given a deadline of Oct. 15 to fulfill the payment, with the risk of a transfer ban if they failed to comply.
HAGL appealed through FIFA’s legal system, submitting what they claimed to be evidence of a contract termination with Dzilah on March 21, 2024, in their office in Pleiku. According to the club, Dzilah agreed to the termination terms and received $20,000 in cash and signed the agreement. HAGL also reported the case to the Gia Lai provincial police, who invited Dzilah to work on Oct. 10.
Despite HAGL’s appeal, FIFA upheld its original decision and sent an official document to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) on Oct. 24, implementing a global transfer ban on the club. The document stated: “The penalty will be lifted when the club completes its financial obligations according to FIFA’s decision.”
In response, HAGL maintained their position and responded: “The club have submitted a request to the competent authorities of the state for intervention and clarification of the case. The case is under investigation. Once the results are available, HAGL will inform fans and the media.”
This is not the first time that a Vietnamese club faced sanctions from FIFA over unpaid compensation to foreign players. Khanh Hoa FC was similarly banned from registering players for failing to pay striker Mamadou Guirassy. However, the team promptly settled its debt, lifting the penalty.
Other Vietnamese clubs have faced fines for contract violations involving foreign players. Thanh Hoa FC were fined over $470,000 for disputes involving players Igor Jelic, Idrissa Sega Cisse, Gramoz Kurtaj and coach Fabio Lopez. Hai Phong FC also paid Errol Stevens nearly $200,000 in a dispute in 2019.
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