• Threatens To Deduct Points, Relegate Club To Lower Division

World football governing body, FIFA, has fined Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) club, Katsina United, the sum N28 million to Coach Tony Tope Bulus as compensation for alleged wrongful termination of contract.

The football body also ordered Katsina United pay as fine the sum of $5 million dollars for failure to obey an earlier ruling ordering them to compensate the coach.

In a letter by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stating FIFA’s decision on the matter, the NFF told Katsina United that the world football governing body is also threatening to ban the club from registering new players and also deduct points from the club if they failed to comply by the decision within 15 days.

The letter dated October 2, 2026, and titled ‘Re-Forwarding the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee Regarding In Case FFD-28984,’ reads: “I am directed to refer to the above subject matter and the correspondence from FIFA Disciplinary Committee dated 21st September, 2026.

“It is my instruction to inform you that FIFA Disciplinary Committee has issued a decision in Ref. No. FDD-28984, on 21st September, 2026 in respect of the case involving Katsina United FC and Coach Toney Tope Bulus.

“The Court of Arbitration for Sport issued an Award on 30th June, 2026 in fovour of the Judgement Creditor, Tony Tope Bulus to the tune of Twenty Eight Million Naira (N28,000,000), as compensation for the wrongful termination of the Employment Contract dated 10th August, 2023. As a result of failure of Katsina United to pay the judgement sum, FIFA Disciplinary Committee has issued a decision to enforce same.

“You are hereby directed to pay the sum of Twenty Eight Million Naira (28,000,000) to Coach Tony Tope Bulus and file the proof of payment to FIFA within fifteen (15) days of the receipt of this letter. You are further directed to pay the sum of USD 5,000 to FIFA, as fine for failure to comply with the decision. Such payment shall be made into the account details provided by FIFA, and attached herein, within fifteen (15) days of the receipt of this letter. Failure to comply with this directive within the stipulated period, a ban on registering new players will be issued and enforced on Katsina United FC by FIFA, without further decision, until the complete amount due is paid.”

It warned the club to note that “deductions of points or relegation to a lower league may be ordered in addition to the registration ban in the event of continuous failure to comply in full.”

The Guardian recalls that Coach Bolus decided to seek legal redress when Katsina United sacked him in 2023 for alleged unruly behaviour and poor team performance.

When the case went to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the body on June 30, 2026 ordered Katsina United to pay N28 million in compensation to Bolus.

FIFA on September 18, 2026 opened disciplinary action against the club for failing to settle the judgment debt, adding further financial penalties.

Reacting to the sanctions, Katsina United Chairman, Surajo Baba Malumfashi, declined comments on the letter, saying that he is not aware of it yet.

He said: “I will make my comments only when I see the letter. For now, I have nothing to say.”