Kotoko seek FIFA lifeline tomorrow

Asante Kotoko are anticipating a lifeline from FIFA tomorrow when the case involving the transfer of their prized midfielder, Kwame Bonsu, to Esperance of Tunisia comes up for hearing.

According to a letter to Kotoko’s representative, Ashford Tettey-Oku of Offside Consult fame, sighted by Graphic Sports, FIFA has set April 15 for the hearing of the  Kwame Bonsu case, which could tilt in favour of Kotoko.

If Kotoko win, all they will have to do is to settle their indebtedness to Esperance, while receiving at least $150,000 from the Tunisian side.

Bonsu transfer

Kotoko transferred Bonsu to Esperance for $150,000 last year but have still not received payment following the outstanding US$180,000 debt the Ghanaian side owed the Tunisians in respect of the registration of Emmanuel Clottey in 2015.

When FIFA ordered Kotoko last month to settle Esperance within one month or face relegation, the management of the club engaged the services of Mr Tettey-Oku's Offside Consult to help resolve the matter amicably between the two clubs.

Briefing the Graphic Sports in an exclusive interview, Mr Tettey-Oku said Kotoko engaged him last month to primarily to work on the Bonsu case following the FIFA order.

Being an expert in that field, he said he studied both cases and accordingly advised Kotoko on what could be the likely outcome from a FIFA hearing or an arbitration between the two clubs.

According to him, he then went ahead to discuss the issue with the Vice- President of Esperance who also referred him to the club's legal officer for further deliberations.

He, however, revealed that after Esperance had written to him on March 30, 2020 on the way forward, FIFA sat on the case again last Thursday after Kotoko had failed to comply with an earlier directive to pay the money within one month.

Kotoko hit with $240,540 fine

FIFA, therefore, ordered Kotoko to pay $240,540 to Esperance within the next four weeks or suffer demotion.

He explained that since FIFA did not mix cases but dealt with individual cases on their own merits, the decision to let Kotoko settle their indebtedness to Esperance in respect of the Clottey case was in order.

He predicted that come tomorrow, FIFA would likely give Esperance 30 days to pay Kotoko Bonsu's transfer fee of $150,000 or face relegation.

Mr Tettey-Oku further disclosed that though he also sought for a five per cent interest per annum on the amount and other reliefs from Esperance, those ones would have to be decided by FIFA.

He pointed out that if FIFA ruled in favour of Kotoko, then the Ghanaian side would only have to strike the balance and pay the difference to Esperance to close the docket.