FIFA gives Gombe United May 23 deadline to pay Cooreman’s N13m

World football governing body, FIFA, has given Gombe United Football Club a May 23 deadline to pay their former coach, Maurice Cooreman, N13 million being the outstanding debt the team owes the Belgian.

Cooreman left Gombe United in 2014 on health grounds, but he took the club to FIFA after trying fruitlessly to retrieve the salary arrears and other emoluments owed him by the club.

In a letter dated April 29 and signed by Daniela Raishi on behalf of the Players’ Status Committee, FIFA warned Gombe United that it would take the case to its disciplinary committee if it did not get evidence of full payment of the debt.

Referring to Cooreman’s case against the club, which was decided by a single judge of the Players’ Status Committee on January 26, FIFA said:

“We kindly draw Gombe United’s attention to the fact that, it seems like it still has not fulfilled its obligations as established in points 2 and 3 of the findings of the relevant decision (cf. enclosed correspondent dated April 4, 2016 received from Mr. Maurice Cooreman).

“As a result, we kindly inform Gombe United Football Club that it should immediately pay the relevant amounts to Mr. Maurice Cooreman.

“In this respect, we kindly ask Gombe United Football Club to provide our services with a copy of the payment receipt of the relevant amounts by no later than May 23, 2016.”

The letter addressed to the club through the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), added: “In case Gombe United Football club does not provide proof of payment within the above-mentioned time frame, we will proceed to forward the entire file to the Disciplinary Committee.”

FIFA had on January 26, 2016   awarded N10 million to Cooreman and an interest of 0.5 per cent per annum effective from December 9, 2014, following the former Enyimba coach’s report that Gombe United owed him for his service to the club.

In the ruling signed by FIFA’s Acting Secretary General, Marco Villiger, the body also ordered Gombe United to pay to Cooreman N2.5 million at five per cent interest effective December 9, 2014 until the date of effective payment.

Gombe United was also fined 25,000 euros as administrative fee, which must be paid to FIFA 30 days after the judgment.