By Syazwani
Picture by The Star
The Pahang Football Association (PFA) are ready to defy FIFA’s order for them to pay their former striker Mohamadou Sumareh US$1.2mil (RM4.9mil). Former Pahang manager Datuk Suffian Awang, now the chief executive officer of the team, said they would fight the case and seek international lawyers’ help to appeal it.
He confirmed that the PFA had received a letter from FIFA, asking them to pay the sum after Sumareh lodged a complaint with the world federation over unpaid salaries.
“We’ll leave it to the lawyers. They know what to do. They’ll write to FIFA and see what should be done after this. We have also enlisted the help of some international lawyers,” said Suffian.
“We’ll also leave it to the prudence of the lawyers on the next course of action. Whether they want to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) or exhaust any other alternative, it’s up to them.”
Meanwhile, Football Association of Malaysia secretary-general Stuart Ramalingam said the case is between Sumareh and Pahang.
“The decision has been made; now we have to wait and see the developments. From the date of the notice, which is Feb 2, Pahang have 10 days to request grounds of decision (GD). With the GD, they can appeal to CAS.
“In the next 10 days, if they do not ask for GD, then FIFA will decide the decision is final. Once that decision is made, the payment must be made in 45 days.
“The clock only starts ticking once Sumareh formally informs the Pahang FA on where and how the transaction should be done.
“If Sumareh informs them after two months, the 45 days start at that point. If the matter is heard at appeal, the decision by FIFA can be withheld until CAS makes a decision.”
Last year, the 26-year-old Sumareh invoked Clause 8.7, which provides for termination of his contract for non-payment of salary to part ways with Pahang. It allowed him to negotiate with any club and to be released unconditionally on a free transfer.
It is learnt that Sumareh’s contract with Pahang is specified at US$5,000 (RM20,362) increment per year after his second year with the team.
However, he claimed that his salary did not change after joining them in 2017. The US$1.2mil is the addition of the annual increments owed plus the breach of contract for 2020 and 2021. Sumareh joined Thai side Police Tero for a short stint and later announced that he was coming back to Malaysia, with rumours rife that he could be joining Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim.
Sumareh joined Pahang as an import in 2017 and helped the Elephants win the FA Cup in 2018 and became a fan favourite at the Darul Makmur Stadium. He became a naturalised Malaysian in 2018 and has earned 19 caps for the national team.
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