FIFA Bans Ivory Coast Defender Emmanuel Eboué For 1 year

FIFA, the world’s football governing body has

banned Ivory Coast and Sunderland defender

Emmanuel Eboué for one year. FIFA passed the

judgement on the former Arsenal defender this

morning for refusing to pay his agent for agent

fees owed.

This means won’t be able to play football for 360

days effective from this morning until the fee is

completely paid. The ban will be lifted once he

pays up. Read FIFA’s full statement after the cut.

”Emmanuel Eboué, who has represented Côte

d’Ivoire and is currently registered for the

English club Sunderland A.F.C., is to serve a

ban on taking part in any football-related

activity that will last for one year or until he

pays the total outstanding amount owed to his

former agent if this occurs before the one-year

ban has elapsed.” The origins of the case

involve a decision passed by the single judge of

the FIFA Players’ Status Committee in July 2013

regarding a contractual dispute according to

which Mr Eboué was ordered to pay the

players’ agent Mr Sébastien Boisseau an

amount owed to him based on the

representation agreement between the two

parties.

The decision was taken on the basis of the FIFA

Players’ Agents Regulations in force at the time

(2008 edition). ”On 9 September 2014, the FIFA

Disciplinary Committee decided to sanction Mr

Eboué with a fine of CHF 30,000 for failing to

comply with the decision of the single judge of

the Players’ Status Committee on the basis of

art. 64 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The

player was also granted a final period of grace

of 120 days to settle his debt, upon failure of

which the creditor – Mr Boisseau – would be

entitled to request that a one-year ban on

taking part in any football-related activity be

imposed on Mr Eboué.”

Mr Eboué appealed to CAS against the FIFA

Disciplinary Committee’s decision, but the

appeal was dismissed and the decision of the

Disciplinary Committee confirmed in full.

”Following the expiry of the final deadline

granted, Mr Boisseau requested that the one-

year ban be imposed on Mr Eboué in

accordance with the decision of the FIFA

Disciplinary Committee. The relevant parties,

including The Football Association which has

been requested to implement said ban, have

been informed accordingly.”