FIFA clears the air on Maluleka’s contract dilemma with Chiefs

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has cleared the air on contract dilemma which is faced by the Premier Soccer League.

Read: Top 5: Chiefs’ greatest strikers in PSL era

The World governing body wrote to the South African Football Association (SAFA) responding to a letter that was sent prior, in which SAFA was asking them to elaborate further on how to handle those employment contracts that are due to lapse on June 30.

Kermit is yet to reach his peak this season
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder George Maluleka with Cape Town City striker Kermit Erasmus during their Absa Premiership match.
(Image: BackpagePix)

The Coronavirus pandemic halted world football which led to FIFA compiling a document titled “Covid-19: Football Regulatory Issues” to address these questions and many more.

PSL players such as George Maluleka of Kaizer Chiefs, for instance, is one of several players who are in this situation, although the Glamour Boys announced three months ago that ‘Mido’ had rejected a contract extension and was set to join Mamelodi Sundowns.

“With regards to your inquiry on FIFA’s position on the status of contracts that are expiring at the end of June 2020, we wish to refer you to the section ‘expiring agreements and new agreements’ on page 4 of CFRI document, more specifically, to the guiding principles,” said FIFA in a letter responding to SAFA acting CEO Tebogo Motlanthe as quoted by Soccer Laduma

Below are some of the important information the world football governing body is clear on:

  1. Where an agreement is due to expire at the end of the original end date of a season, such expiry be extended until the new end date of the season.
  2. In the event of overlapping seasons and/or registration periods, and unless all parties agree otherwise, priority be given to the former cub to complete their season with the original squad.

The World governing body further cleared that all the players, such as Maluleka, who find themselves in such situations should consent to the new agreement as there was no deal in place between Chiefs and the 31-year-old midfielder while Sundowns are still to officially confirm signing him.