Fifa orders FKF to pay former Kenyan coach Michel Sh4.5m
The world governing football body, Fifa, has ordered Football Kenya Federation to pay former Harambee Stars coach, Henri Michel Sh 4.5 million in salary arrears.
In addition, the federation is to pay a 5 per cent interest (of the principal amount) per year from the date of the ruling as fine.
In documents accessed by Nairobi News, FKF has also been warned that proceedings could be opened against them for violation of Article 64 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code (FDC).
“We refer to the above-mentioned matter, as we have learnt that the Football Kenya Federation has not acted in accordance with the decision (to pay the coach) passed by the Single Judge of the Players’ Status Committee on 25 February 2014. This would appear to be a violation of Article 64 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC), and as such, it will be the subject of an investigation by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee,” Fifa said in the statment.
The statement further adds: “We are therefore opening disciplinary proceedings against the Football Kenya Federation in respect of a violation of article 64 of the FDC. With this in mind, we hereby urge the Football Kenya Federation to pay immediately the outstanding amounts due to the coach Mr Henri Michel, namely EUR 40,000 as well as 5 per cent interest per year to be calculated in accordance with the decision of the Single Judge of the Players’ Status Committee dated 25 February 2014 until the date of effective payment, and to send us a copy of proof of payment.”
In response, FKF, through its General Secretary Robert Muthomi, has written to Fifa seeking to be furnished with the ruling.
NYAMWEYA’S MESS
“We do not have the judgment in our possession since the outgoing office did not hand it over to us. We would be grateful if you could furnish us with a copy of the decision so that we can look into the modalities of settling the claim,”Muthomi said.
The ruling made in February 2014 was communicated to the federation, then, under the leadership of Sam Nyamweya but they failed to act.
On Wednesday, FKF President, Nick Mwendwa, said that they have been forced to carry the burden and fix a lot of mess which were made by their predecessors.
“It’s true we have been ordered to pay (Michel). The matter was brought to our attention a week ago. We are trying to give them a proposal on time frame of payment so that the matter is settled. It (failure to comply) is dangerous and it can lead to disqualification of our teams from all international tournaments,” Mr Mwendwa said.
Michel was hired as Stars coach in August 2012 but he quit under a cloud of uncertainty two months into the job before lodging his complaint with Fifa.
The matter comes in the wake of another pay dispute involving another former Harambee Stars coach Bobby Williamson and the federation which is currently pending at the Sports Disputes Tribunal.
