World governing body Fifa has banned Tanzanian club Young Africans (Yanga SC) from registering new players after they failed to pay their former coach Luc Eymael.

Yanga, who were recently crowned the Tanzanian Premier League champions for the second season in a row, were ordered to pay the Belgian tactician $148 000 for unfair dismissal. Yanga sacked the former AFC Leopards coach, alleging he had made racist remarks against Tanzanian fans following a 1-1 draw with Mtibwa Sugar.

“We take due note that in its correspondence, the creditor informs us that the respondent, the club Young Africans, have not complied with its financial obligations in accordance with the decision of Fifa,” read a letter signed by Fifa’s disciplinary coordinator, Pablo Arias.

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“In this regard, we wish to inform the parties that a ban on registering new players internationally has been implemented by Fifa as of today,” adding: “Moreover, and in accordance with this aforementioned decision, the respondent’s member association [TFF] is requested to immediately implement on the respondent, Young Africans, a ban from signing new players at the national level.”

In the letter from Fifa demanding Yanga to pay Eymael, dated March 8, 2023, the Timu ya Wananchi still owed the Belgian $99000 as outstanding transactional indemnity and $5000 as a contractual penalty.

After firing Eymael, Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) followed Yanga’s action by banning Eymael from coaching in the country for two years and fining him TSh8 million ($3411). In solidarity with TFF, the South African Football Association (Safa) also announced banning the former Polokwane City coach from coaching in South Africa.

The punishment led to Eymael losing a potential employment opportunity with South Africa’s Chippa United.