FIFA asks V. League club to pay overdue dues to int'l player

In March 2021, Mpande couldn’t fly to Vietnam to play in the V. League because there was no flight. Hai Phong FC then decided to end the contract without Mpande’s agreement, prompting the 28-year-old to take his case to the FIFA.

FIFA asked the club to provide information related to the case.

On April 14, after negotiating with Mpande in Vietnam, Hai Phong FC agreed to pay him $14,250 and let him continue to play for the club. However, the club did not inform the FIFA of this development.

On May 7, FIFA issued its final decision on the case, ordering Hai Phong FC to pay $56,500 to Mpande as compensation. Five days later, the club informed the FIFA of its deal with Mpande, but the decision had already been taken and the debt entered into record.

The Vietnam Football Federation has requested Hai Phong to handle the payment for Mpande so the club is eligible to play in V. League 2022.

Neither the club nor Mpande has commented on the latest development and any follow up action being considered.

October 6 is the deadline for clubs to register for the next V. League season.