As per kickgh.com, Accra Hearts of oak could get an automatic qualification to the money zone of the champions league due to an impending FIFA case with Wydad Athletic Club (WAC).
FIFA imposed a transfer embargo on WAC, which was later maintained by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), for failing to pay Nigerian international Chisom Elvis Chikatara $187,250.33 by December 31, 2020.
The total value includes a judgment of $165,167, plus 5% interest from April 7, 2019 to April 7, 2021, as well as a cost of 3,000 Swiss Francs determined by CAS.
According to a letter sent to the Head of the Club Licensing Department of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation on July 29, 2021 by the player’s solicitors, Activity Chambers, and signed by the Head of Sports Law (Africa), Johnny Precious Ogbah, the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber ruled in favor of their client on March 7, 2019 and awarded the cost of $165,167 against WAC.
“This was supposed to be paid in 30 days. The ruling further noted that if the Respondent does not pay the aforementioned amounts within the stipulated time limit, interest at the rate of 5% per annum will be due as of the expiration date,” it explained.
WAC were ineligible to participate in the 2021/2022 CAF Champions League after failing to meet a CAF deadline of August 15, 2021 in connection with the payment of overdue payables owed Chikatara, according to a separate letter signed by Johnny Precious Ogbah to the President of Hearts of Oak dated September 20, 2021.
“We write to notify you that your CAF Champions League opponents in the following round, WAC of Morocco, are ineligible to compete in the CAF Champions League 2021/2022.
“This is because vide a petition dated July 29, 2021, we informed the CAF of their ineligibility as they owed our clients overdue payables and after investigation, CAF gave them a deadline of August 15, 2021, to pay the overdue payables they owed our client.
