Breaking: Hearts of Oak To Be Awarded Automatic Qualification Over WAC Of Morocco
The Phobians will automatically book their place in the group stage of the Caf Champions League following a ban placed on the Moroccan club for gross misconducts
Ghana’s sole representatives in the Caf Champions League Accra Hearts of Oak will likely be handed an automatic qualification over Wydad Athletic Club (WAC) Casablanca in the competition following a FIFA ban imposed on the Moroccan club from participating in this year’s competition, Wontumionline.com can reveal.
The Moroccan club was slapped with a transfer ban by FIFA after failing to pay Nigerian player Chisom Elvis of an amount of $187,250.33 and although WAC petitioned CAS, the ruling was held before December 31, 2020.
The total amount of money which WAC was banned as a result comprises a judgement sum of $165,167 plus a five per cent interest accruing from April 7, 2019, to April 7, 2021, as well as a cost of 3,000 Swiss Francs ordered by CAS.
Per a letter issued by the player’s solicitors, Activity Chambers, and signed by the Head of Sports Law (Africa), Johnny Precious Ogbah, to the Head of the Club Licensing Department of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation on July 29, 2021, which has been sighted by journalists reveals that the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber ruled in favour of their client on March 7, 2019, and also awarded the cost of $165,167 against WAC.
“This was to be paid within 30 days. The decision further stated that if the aforementioned amounts are not paid by the Respondent within the stated time limit, interest at the rate of 5% p.a. will fall due as of the expiry date,” it explained.
Another letter signed by Johnny Precious Ogbah to the President of Hearts of Oak dated September 20, 2021, stated that WAC was 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 the overdue payables owed Chikatara.
“We write to inform you that your opponents in the next round of the CAF Champions League, WAC of Morocco, are ineligible to participate 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,” the letter added.
Should Hearts after eliminating CI Kamsar, get a walkover, they will be making their first appearance in the group stage for the first time in almost a decade.
WAC was drawn by in the preliminary round of the Caf Champions League and the game against Hearts would’ve been their first game.