FIFA hands Mohammedan Sporting transfer ban over unpaid dues to Alexis Gomez
Global football body FIFA has slapped another transfer ban on Mohammedan Sporting after it failed to pay Argentine midfielder Alexis Nahuel Gomez his dues in the 2024-25 season.
“We wish to inform the parties that a ban from registering new players internationally and nationally has been implemented by FIFA on the Respondent,” FIFA said in a letter dated July 7.
“The registration ban will remain active until the amount due is paid and for a maximum duration of up to three entire and consecutive registration periods,” FIFA added.
Gomez, who joined the Black Panthers in 2023, helped them win the I-League and earn subsequent promotion to the Indian Super League last year. Over two seasons at the Kolkata-based club, he scored four goals and assisted 10 more.
The 25-year-old is currently playing for Persijap Jepara in the Indonesian Premier Division.
This is the second such ban imposed on the club in one week.
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The club was given a similar ban on July 3 for not clearing the dues of Uzbek midfielder Mirjalol Kasimov, which amount to around 40 lakh rupees.
“We revoked a previous ban from the AIFF for around 24 lakh rupees a few weeks back. There is not a lot to worry about,” Belal Ahmed Khan, the executive committee member of the club, told Sportstar.
“The total dues are for around four to five months, and we will pay them soon to get ourselves ready (for the next season),” he said.
Kasimov, 29, moved to India from Uzbekistan Pro League, his country’s premier division, in 2022, joining NEROCA FC from Aral Samali PFK. He moved to Mohammedan SC the next season, helping it win the I-League and secure promotion into the ISL.
He played 18 times in the ISL last season, scoring twice and setting another up in an otherwise forgettable campaign for the club, where it finished bottom of the table.
The ban severely dents Mohammedan Sporting’s transfer plans for the upcoming season, but its manager, Dipendu Biswas, did not want to comment on the same when Sportstar reached out to him.
Mohammedan is scheduled to open its Durand Cup campaign against Diamond Harbour Football Club on July 28 at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan.
It started its domestic season in the Calcutta Football League with a 2-2 draw with Calcutta Police Club and is expected to retain the core of this squad, going into the Durand Cup.
