Ismaily working to settle Fifa fine as club targets end to registration ban

Ismaily say they are in the process of paying a 20,000 Swiss franc fine imposed by world football governing body Fifa in connection with former player Firas Chaouat.

The club’s appointed management committee said settling the penalty was part of efforts to resolve all of Ismaily’s international cases and pave the way for the lifting of a registration ban.

The fine relates to Tunisian forward Firas Chaouat and is being addressed alongside the case involving Algerian player Mohamed Benkhemassa.

Ismaily said the two matters were being handled as part of a wider attempt to close their outstanding international disputes and allow the club to strengthen their squad during the next stage of the season.

The Egyptian club had previously announced that it had reached an agreement to settle the case involving Chaouat.

The total amount of fines and interest due in that case was $425,692. After intensive negotiations, the committee reached a final agreement with the player, despite Chaouat declining to waive any part of the money owed to him.

Under the agreement, Ismaily paid $255,692 immediately. A further $85,000 is due at the end of next October, with another $85,000 to be paid at the end of next January.

The committee said the arrangement would reduce the club’s immediate financial burden while providing a final settlement for a case that had represented a significant financial and legal obligation.

Procedures have also begun to remove the case from Fifa’s website, ahead of its formal closure.

Ismaily’s appointed committee said dealing with the club’s outstanding cases and financial commitments remained its main priority. It added that work was continuing on the remaining disputes and on lifting the penalties and restrictions that had affected the club over the past several years.

The committee said those efforts were intended to help Ismaily restore financial and legal stability.

Ismaily currently have one registration ban case remaining before they can sign new players.