EXPOSED: Foreign clubs owe Nigerian grassroots clubs N3bn, says Ndubuokwu

Millions of dollars in equivalent of billions in naira that would have been generated through football economy of transfering footballers from Nigeria to foreign clubs have continued to evade the domiciliary accounts of grassroot clubs in Nigeria due to ignorance of football transfer laws, reports www.totorinews.com.

This was disclosed by Bar. Pius  Ndubuokwu at the Football Law Annual Moot (FLAM) seminar on Saturday in Abuja. He revealed most of the grassroot clubs in Nigeria are languishing in poverty, instead of enjoying financial profits from the business of football.

He was particularly concerned that these clubs are more interested in participating at football trials tournament without proper understanding of the football financial transfer market of talented footballers in their care.

Little wonder that, despite the fact that 17,200 footballers have been transferred in the last ten years s, only very few grassroot clubs in Nigeria have actually benefitted from the financial in- flow of the transfer of their players.

“In the last ten years, Nigeria have transferred 17,200 players to clubs abroad, but out of these, over 30% of the transfers are embroiled in transfer disputes due to violation of contracts,” Ndubuokwu told www.totorinews.com in Abuja.

“Painfully from this 30%, about 80% – 90% of them are not even aware that their contracts have been violated. This is a call – up to clubs and players to know when their contracts are violated and one of the ways to know this, is to have a proper knowledge of football transfer of players.

When asked to give an estimated amount foreign clubs are owing grassroot clubs in Nigeria, the football lawyer informed that over $2Million ( about N3 billion) is being owed by these foreign clubs.

“In my last three years of handling football transfer disputes, Nigerian grassroot clubs are being owed more than $Million due to ignorance.

“Recently a player was transfered from one of the grassroot clubs to abroad and the Nigerian parties are fully aware the aware that the contract is worth €1million, what if they are not aware. Knowledge of football tranfer is key.

“Unfortunately, many of these grassroot clubs and footballers are not interested in the opportunity of gaining knowledge and understanding through this type of FLAM event,” he concluded.