October drags Hearts to FIFA

Maurice Quansah Sports News Feb - 03 - 2016 , 12:04

Accra Hearts of Oak risk being sanctioned by football’s world governing body, FIFA, for their failure to fulfil their financial commitments to South African star, Shaun October, who is owed outstanding signing-on fees and salary.

The defender returned to his South Africa base at the end of the last season after making bit-part appearances for the Phobians and declared surplus to the club’s requirements after being transfer-listed by the Phobians alongside other players who failed to make their mark.

In a telephone interview with the Graphic Sports from his South Africa base yesterday, October indicated that he had instructed his solicitor to write to FIFA to assist him retrieve his money from Hearts. He is owed an outstanding signing-on fees of $5,000 and two months’ salary arrears, as well as a refund of his air ticket to South Africa at the end of the season four months ago as stipulated in his contract with the club.

However, the player indicated that the issues were being sorted out and hoped to maintain a cordial relationship with the club, particularly as he sought a release to enable him continue his career elsewhere.

“Whatever happened in the past, we have a good relationship with Hearts and want to maintain that relationship,” he October told this paper.

A director of Hearts, Frank Nelson Nwokolo, admitted that Hearts were indebted to the player and also confirmed the receipt of a demand notice from the player’s lawyer.

He told this paper that Hearts were in the process of fulfiling their financial obligations to the player who joined the Phobians on a two-year deal on the recommendation of former Black Stars defender, John Paintsil, who is now plying his trade in South Africa.

“It is true there is an outstanding payment to be made to Shaun October and the club’s board has made a release which would see to the payment of the money in the coming days,” he said.