A financial dispute is brewing between Mehdi Nafti and the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) after the termination of his contract as assistant coach of the national team. Nafti, who had been appointed in July as Faouzi Benzarti’s assistant, is now preparing to take legal action to claim what he sees as his rightful compensation.
The conflict arose after Nafti’s contract was abruptly cut short following the arrival of a FIFA-appointed normalisation committee, which replaced the existing federation leadership.
While the FTF offered a financial settlement, Nafti’s legal team deemed the compensation insufficient, labeling it “very average” and unacceptable.
With negotiations at an impasse, it now appears that the matter will be settled in court.
Nafti’s lawyer confirmed that his client has no intention of agreeing to the terms proposed by the FTF and will pursue legal avenues to ensure he receives appropriate compensation.
“There will be no amicable resolution,” the lawyer stated, underlining that the case will likely proceed to litigation in the coming weeks.
Nafti’s appointment as Benzarti’s assistant was part of a restructuring initiative led by the previous federation administration under Wassef Jelil.
However, with the arrival of the normalisation committee, several key figures within the coaching staff, including Nafti, were shown the door as part of broader changes.
Despite this shift in leadership, Nafti is determined to claim the compensation he believes is owed under the terms of his contract.
The situation highlights the ongoing challenges within Tunisian football governance, with the intervention of FIFA’s normalisation committee further complicating the federation’s affairs.
For Nafti, who has had a distinguished career as both a player and a coach, the focus is now on resolving the financial aspects of his contract termination.
The legal battle is expected to shed light on the terms of Nafti’s contract and could potentially involve wider issues regarding the FTF’s handling of coaching appointments and dismissals.
As of now, no further statements have been made by the federation or the normalisation committee regarding the dispute.
For Tunisian football, this dispute comes at a critical time, with the national team preparing for important international fixtures.
The dismissal of several staff members, including Nafti, is seen as part of a larger effort to streamline operations within the team.
Yet, the financial wrangling may cast a shadow over these preparations, with potential reputational damage looming for the federation.
With legal proceedings expected to begin soon, Nafti will be hoping for a swift resolution to the dispute, as he looks to move forward in his coaching career.
However, the conflict between the former assistant coach and the FTF underscores the broader instability facing Tunisian football as the normalisation committee takes charge.
