Al Ahly appeal delays FIFA registration ban over Jumberli dispute

Al Ahly have appealed against a FIFA ruling ordering them to pay former assistant coach Harald Jumberli €357,500 plus 5% annual interest, preventing any possible registration ban from being enforced for now.

The case concerns Jumberli, who previously worked as an assistant to Marcel Koller. FIFA’s Player Status Chamber ruled that Al Ahly must pay 11 months of salary covering the period from May 2025 to March 2026.

The club was also ordered to pay 5% interest on each instalment until the full amount is settled.

Legal expert Amer al-Amayra said FIFA decisions involving unpaid wages owed to players or coaching staff can result in a club being barred from registering players for three registration periods.

However, he said that sanction does not currently apply to Al Ahly because the Egyptian club appealed against the decision immediately after it was issued.

“The ruling concerning Koller’s assistant was issued on 26 May, but the decision became known publicly last Thursday,” al-Amayra said in comments to broadcaster Abu al-Maati Zaki, which were published on Zaki’s Facebook page.

“Al Ahly’s management appealed against it, so this suspends the enforcement of the financial decisions until the Court of Arbitration for Sport rules on the case.”

The dispute began when Al Ahly removed Jumberli from his position in April 2025, despite his contract running until June 2026.

Jumberli argued before FIFA that he remained entitled to receive his salary after being relieved of his duties. Al Ahly, however, maintained that it had fulfilled its financial obligations up to his final day of work.

The Player Status Chamber concluded that the contract remained valid after his removal and ordered Al Ahly to pay the outstanding 11 salaries, totalling €357,500.

Under the ruling, the club was given the right to challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 21 days of receiving formal notification.