Gaborone United have been docked three points for failing to pay the hefty debt owed to their former Ghanaian striker Bismarck Appiah.
The club was instructed by world football governing body FIFA on July 25 to pay compensation amounting to US$39 500 (approximately P400 000) within 30 days for breaching the contract signed with Appiah three years ago.
Appiah arrived at GU on a two-year contract in July 2015 together with countryman Godwin Osei-Bonsu, but after a handful of appearances and a single goal, his contract was terminated by the club due to unconvincing display on the pitch.
The striker took the matter to the FIFA dispute resolution chamber, which ruled in September 2016 that GU should pay US$39 500 as compensation to Appiah for breach of contract plus five per cent interest per annum.
However, the financially troubled GU dilly dallied to pay the compensation, which prompted FIFA last month to issue a final deadline of 30 days for the debt to be paid.
FIFA said GU had infringed Article 64 of the FIFA disciplinary code as it was guilty of failing to comply with the dispute resolution chamber judgement.
The world football governing body instructed that GU should be automatically docked three points if they failed to pay the compensation within that deadline.
FIFA further said the disciplinary committee would decide on a possible relegation of GU to the next lower division if the club continued failing to pay the debt.
Botswana Football Association (BFA) public relations officer Tumo Mpatane said the three points were docked after the 30 days deadline elapsed on August 26.
He explained that Botswana Premier League would produce an updated league log reflecting the deducted points from GU.
Since the Reds had accumulated a single point from two matches, it means that the deduction of the points has plunged them to the bottom of the BTC Premiership standings with minus two points.
GU played to a 1-1 draw with Police XI last weekend and were beaten 3-1 by Sharps Shooting Stars in the opening match of the season.
Credit: Botswana Daily News
