CAS rejects Aminata Bangura appeal as Sierra Leone FA Ethics Board ruling stands

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has brought an end to Aminata Bangura’s legal challenge against the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), rejecting her appeal and confirming the decision of the association’s Ethics Board.

The ruling was delivered on 5 October 2026 in case CAS 2025/A/11613 Aminata Bangura v. Sierra Leone Football Association, with the three-member panel upholding the Ethics Board’s decision of 19 July 2025.

The SLFA announced the development in a statement on Monday, confirming that Bangura’s appeal had been dismissed in full.

The decision settles a dispute that had become a major issue in the build-up to Sierra Leone’s August 2025 football elections, which were preceded by a protracted and complicated electoral process.

CAS orders Bangura to cover arbitration costs

In addition to rejecting the appeal, the CAS panel ruled that Bangura must bear the costs associated with the arbitration.

She was further ordered to pay CHF 3,000 to the SLFA as a contribution towards the association’s legal costs and expenses incurred during the proceedings.

The ruling leaves the decision taken by the SLFA Ethics Board intact and closes the matter at the international sports arbitration level.

The case had taken several turns during the election process, with CAS previously granting Bangura temporary clearance on 31 July 2025.

That intervention came after the process towards the SLFA election had encountered difficulties, with the proceedings described at the time as slow and inconsistent.

Despite the temporary clearance granted by CAS, Bangura subsequently challenged the Ethics Board’s decision through the international arbitration process.

The latest award has now confirmed that the original ruling will remain in force.

SLFA welcomes CAS decision

The SLFA has welcomed the outcome, arguing that the ruling reinforces decisions reached through its internal judicial structures.

“Welcoming the decision, the SLFA said the CAS award confirms the decisions taken by its judicial bodies and highlights the importance of integrity, transparency and compliance in football administration.”

The association also used the ruling to reaffirm its position on governance within the country’s football administration.

“The association said it remains committed to promoting good governance and accountability in the management of football in Sierra Leone.”

With CAS dismissing the appeal in its entirety, the dispute has now reached its conclusion before the international sports arbitration body.

The Ethics Board’s 19 July 2025 decision therefore remains valid, while Bangura is required to meet the arbitration costs and make the additional CHF 3,000 contribution towards the SLFA’s legal expenses.

The ruling closes one of the contentious chapters surrounding the SLFA’s 2025 electoral process and leaves the association’s judicial decision undisturbed.