The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ordered Tema Youth Football Club to pay the Ghana Football Association (GFA) €150,000 bringing conclusion to a legal dispute over the transfer of winger Joseph Paintsil to Belgian club, KRC Genk.
The Black Stars winger joined the Belgium outfit in 2018 from Tema Youth, but there was a dispute over the proper application of Article 33(5) C of the GFA statutes which relates to the payment of a percentage of all training and transfer fees in respect of external transfers into a football development fund.
The CAS ruling reinforces the GFA’s position established by the football body’s Appeals Committee in June 2022 demanding a share of Paintsil’s transfer fee.
Under this verdict, Tema Youth are obligated to pay €150,000 to the GFA, €688,000 to Young Redbull FC (Paintsil’s previous Ghanaian club), and €150,000 to the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA).
CAS dismissed all claims brought forth by Tema Youth against Young Red Bull FC — the club the second tier side acquired Paintsil from — and similarly rejected those targeting the GFA.
The club was also ordered to pay to the GFA, 4,000 Swiss Francs as a contribution towards its legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with the arbitration proceedings.
The ruling by the Lausanne-based world sports tribunal marks the conclusion of a series of legal proceedings initiated by Tema Youth SC, in which the GFA secured three verdicts at CAS regarding the transfer of the player Joseph Paintsil.
The legal journey began on March 23, 2022, when Young Red Bull filed a claim against Tema Youth with the GFA Players’ Status Committee, seeking €778,807 based on their transfer agreement concerning Paintsil.
The GFA Player Status Committee made its decision on March 23, 2022, compelling Tema Youth to settle the outstanding balance within one month.
Following an appeal by Tema Youth, the GFA Appeals Committee reaffirmed the decision on June 11, 2022, directing the club to fulfil its financial obligations.
Tema Youth subsequently turned to CAS on July 1, 2022, challenging the GFA Appeals Committee Decision. Despite two previous attempts, CAS denied requests for a Stay of Execution by Tema Youth. The club’s non-compliance resulted in disciplinary actions, including point deductions and the looming threat of a transfer ban.
The ruling means that Tema Youth SC, currently demoted to Division Two (Ghana’s third tier league competition) will continue to incur point deductions for each match played until the outstanding debt to Young Red Bull, GHALCA and the GFA is settled.
Additionally, a transfer ban, both domestically and internationally, will be enforced until full settlement or a mutually agreed upon resolution is reached.
Tema Youth SC, then in the Ghana Premier League, had transferred Joseph Paintsil to KRC Genk for a transfer fee of EUR 3,000,000.
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