Katsina United have been ordered by FIFA to pay former head coach Tony Tope Bulus N28 million after the wrongful termination of his contract, or face a ban on registering new players.
The Nigeria Premier Football League club has also been fined USD 5,000 for failing to comply with an earlier ruling. FIFA has warned that further sanctions, including deductions from the club’s league points, could follow if the payments are not made within the required period.
Bulus was appointed by Katsina United on a two-year contract in August 2023, but his employment was terminated midway through the agreement. The dispute subsequently went through football arbitration channels, with advocacy groups including African Coaches Connect supporting the coach’s case.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport issued an award on 30th June, 2026, ordering Katsina United to pay Bulus N28,000,000 as compensation. The club did not settle the judgment, prompting the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to intervene.
The Nigeria Football Federation formally communicated FIFA’s decision to Katsina United in a letter dated October 2, 2026. The document was titled ‘Re-Forwarding the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee Regarding In Case FFD-28984’ and referred to correspondence from FIFA dated 21st September, 2026.
The letter stated that FIFA had issued a decision in Ref. No. FDD-28984 concerning Katsina United FC and Coach Toney Tope Bulus.
It said: “The Court of Arbitration for Sport issued an Award on 30th June, 2026 in fovour of the Judgement Creditor, Tony Tope Bulus to the tune of Twenty Eight Million Naira (N28,000,000), as compensation for the wrongful termination of the Employment Contract dated 10th August, 2023. As a result of failure of Katsina United to pay the judgement sum, FIFA Disciplinary Committee has issued a decision to enforce same.”
Katsina United have 15 days from receiving the NFF letter to pay the compensation and submit proof of payment to FIFA. The club must also pay the USD 5,000 fine into the account provided by FIFA within the same timeframe.
The NFF said: “You are hereby directed to pay the sum of Twenty Eight Million Naira (28,000,000) to Coach Tony Tope Bulus and file the proof of payment to FIFA within fifteen (15) days of the receipt of this letter.”
It added that failure to meet the deadline would result in FIFA imposing and enforcing a ban on registering new players “without further decision” until the full amount owed had been paid.