After months of daggers drawn over a contract dispute between the NFF and Gernot Rohr, world football’s governing body has delivered judgment
FIFA have ordered the NFF to pay ex-coach Gernot Rohr his rights, but the Franco-German will receive less than he expected.
World soccer’s governing body, in a judgment reportedly delivered to the NFF on April 22, demanded the federation pay the sum of $380,000 instead of the $1 million demanded by Rohr.
The NFF had agreed to pay until the end of his contract in December 2022, but Rohr contacted FIFA to report a breach of contract and demanded an additional sum as he claimed he had been sacked without cause.
Although Rohr’s request was considered, he did not get what he wanted in terms of financial return thanks to the judgment of FIFA. His case was “partially accepted to the extent that it is admissible”.
The Fifa Players’ Status Chamber decision added that the NFF would be sanctioned if Rohr was not paid in full within 45 days.
“If full payment (including any applicable interest) is not made within 45 days of notification of this award, the respondent [the NFF] will be placed on a restriction on receiving a percentage of development funding, until amounts due are paid,” The BBC reported FIFA’s decision as saying.
The decision did not catch the NFF off guard as they viewed its payments until December 2022 as a possibility but must pay within the next 45 days in order to avoid tougher penalties.
Nigeria faces another financial penalty after being fined $150,000 for breaking the peace at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium during the World Cup qualifiers match against Ghana.
Rohr is said to be the favorite to land Mali’s vacant coaching job, while the Super Eagles are also expected to announce a new coach soon.
