Pape Thiaw-FSF dispute edges closer to FIFA as lawyers consider legal action

The dispute between Pape Thiaw and the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) could be taken to FIFA after the former national team coach’s lawyers reportedly consider an appeal to the governing body’s Dispute Resolution Chamber.

The development comes after the FSF allegedly failed to respond to a formal notice issued by Thiaw over the dispute.

According to journalist and web editor Sané Malang, Thiaw’s legal team is now weighing the possibility of bringing the case before FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber.

Such a move could leave the FSF facing claims for unpaid salaries as well as possible compensation linked to the termination of Thiaw’s contract.

Sané Malang has cited the case involving former Senegal coach Aliou Cissé and Libya as a possible point of reference for the ongoing dispute.

“Pape Thiaw’s lawyers are preparing to take a tougher stance by appealing to FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber,” he says on X.

The dispute has also raised questions over the way the FSF has handled its public communication since the disagreement emerged.

Sané Malang has criticised the federation’s approach, arguing that its public statements could have consequences as the disagreement continues.

The concerns come despite a reported request from the Minister of Sports for the different parties involved to exercise restraint in their dealings with the media.

However, the FSF has continued to address the matter publicly, including through an appearance by Bacary Cissé, president of the federation’s communication commission.

“Since the beginning of the case, the FSF has accumulated communication errors that could prove fatal to it,” says Sané Malang.

The dispute has therefore moved beyond the initial disagreement between Thiaw and the federation, with the possibility of a FIFA case now becoming a central part of the situation.

The potential involvement of FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber could determine how claims relating to outstanding salaries and compensation are handled if Thiaw’s lawyers formally proceed with the case.

For now, attention is focused on 21 August, which has been identified as an important deadline in the ongoing standoff between the former coach and the Senegalese Football Federation.