MBABANE – A transformative era for Eswatini football is on the horizon.
The Eswatini Football Association (EFA) reportedly prepares to end years of procrastination by launching its long-awaited Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC).
Sources indicate that a high-level meeting was convened recently to finalise committee structures.
Operating under the EFA’s Football Tribunal, the DRC is designed to settle international transfer conflicts and contractual disputes between players and clubs, effectively bypassing traditional civil courts.
The chamber’s reach is expected to extend to local coaches, providing a formal avenue to file claims against employers for contractual breaches, including the persistent issue of salary arrears.
In accordance with International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Statutes, which mandate that every member association maintain a functional Football Tribunal—the EFA has reportedly set an ambitious timeline to have the chamber operational by next month. The DRC’s rulings are binding, serving as a cornerstone for fairness and integrity within the professional game.
When approached for comment, EFA Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi ‘Rhoo’ Radebe remained tight-lipped. “I am yet to find out the details of the meeting,” he stated briefly.
The necessity of a DRC is well-established globally. As far back as 2012, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) heard appeals involving France’s FC Nantes and Dubai’s Al Nasr following FIFA DRC rulings. More recently, South Africa’s PSL DRC made headlines by declaring player Asanele Velebayi a free agent after his club’s relegation to the amateur ranks in August.
Closer to home, the urgency for such a body was necessitated by the Manzini Wanderers saga. After an unsatisfactory ruling by the EFA’s Appeals Board, the club’s relegation battle spilled into the High Court, resulting in a legal stalemate that lasted an entire season.
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