Macarthur FC has been handed a significant blow after FIFA imposed a recruitment ban on the club, barring them from signing new players until the middle of 2026 unless they pay compensation owed to former coach Dwight Yorke.
The ban, which applies to both domestic and international player signings, stems from the club’s failure to comply with a ruling that requires them to compensate Yorke for wrongful dismissal.
According to a recent report in Australia’s Sunday Morning Herald, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) recently upheld a decision made by FIFA’s Players’ Status Chamber (PSC) that Macarthur FC must pay Yorke AU$212,500, a sum that has now risen to AU$290,000 with interest.
Yorke was sacked from his position as head coach after a post-match dressing room outburst in January 2023. The court found that the club breached his contract and terminated him without just cause.
Macarthur, who recently claimed the 2024 Australia Cup with a 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory, will be unable to sign new talent during the A-League’s upcoming January 2024 transfer window, as well as future windows, if they fail to resolve the outstanding payment.
The ban will be in place until the payment is made in full, along with any accrued interest.
In a letter addressed to Macarthur FC, FIFA’s head of disciplinary, Américo Espallargas, emphasized the seriousness of the club’s failure to meet its financial obligations to Yorke.
The letter also stated that if the full amount is not paid by the end of the current penalty, further disciplinary measures could be enforced at Yorke’s request.
Macarthur FC had previously appealed the original PSC ruling, arguing that Yorke had damaged the club’s reputation following his explosive remarks during the January 2023 incident, but the appeal was rejected.
Yorke had also lodged a counterclaim to seek additional compensation for the remainder of his contract, which would have exceeded AU$800,000 if successful, but this was dismissed due to a CAS rule change in 2010 making counterclaims inadmissible.
With the ban now in place, Macarthur FC’s ability to compete at the highest level could be severely impacted as they miss out on crucial transfer windows until the matter is resolved.
For now, the club remains in a precarious position, awaiting the resolution of a dispute that has reverberated across Australian football. (SportsMax)
