Dr. Kwame Kyei
Asante Kotoko have finally cleared the infamous outstanding Esperance debt over the illegal transfer of Emmanuel Clottey, club PRO Kennedy Boakye-Ansah has confirmed.
World Football governing body, FIFA, slapped a $240,000 fine on Kotoko, made up of $180,000 for the player’s transfer, $45,000 representing accrued interest and $15,000 for the failure to respect a FIFA decision.
FIFA handed Kotoko a May 17 ultimatum to offset the debt owed the Tunisian side or face stricter sanctions, having dragged its feet in resolving the issue.
“Dr. Kwame Kyei has paid the amounts due Esperance and FIFA in the Emmanuel Clottey issue. Thirty thousand ($30,000) US dollars go to Esperance as an addition to the $150,000 owed Kotoko for the transfer of Kwame Bonsu,” the PRO said on Kotoko Express App.
“The Executive Chairman also paid $15, 000 to FIFA. We are grateful to Dr. Kyei and also to Ashford Tetteh Oku of Close Marking Consult for the smooth closure of this case,” he added.
“They (Esperance) were also owing us in the Kwame Bonsu transfer deal of $150,000 so we used it to offset the $180,000. Then we sent $30,000 to them. We have settled the case and communicated to FIFA,” the PRO stated.
Kotoko was confronted with an imminent ban should they have defaulted after a second time warning.
By Kofi Owusu Aduonum