RC Abidjan takes legal action against Nice over breach of partnership agreement
The long-standing partnership between French football club OGC Nice and Ivorian club Racing Club Abidjan (RCA) has come to an acrimonious end, with RC Abidjan taking legal action against the French side. The two clubs, which had been working together since 2018 under an agreement set to run until 2025, are now locked in a bitter dispute that has reached the attention of FIFA.
RC Abidjan has accused OGC Nice of abruptly terminating their partnership in 2023, a move that the Ivorian club claims was unjust and in violation of the terms agreed upon in their contract.
According to reports from L’Equipe, RCA has filed a complaint with FIFA, and the case could potentially escalate to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if a satisfactory resolution is not reached.
The Ivorian club, which recently won the Ivory Coast Cup, is also seeking compensation for unpaid transfer fees.
Under the terms of their agreement, RCA was entitled to 30% of the transfer fees for two of their players, Jean N’Guessan and Ange Ahoussou, who were developed by the club before moving to Nice.
N’Guessan was later transferred to Metz for €400,000, and Ahoussou to Pau for €500,000.
RCA claims that they have yet to receive their share of these fees, prompting further dissatisfaction and legal action against Nice.
In response to these allegations, OGC Nice has defended its actions by citing concerns over the management of funds by RC Abidjan.
The French club has invested nearly €5 million in the Ivorian side as part of their partnership, but has raised questions about the transparency and use of these funds.
Nice specifically pointed to the delayed construction of two accommodation buildings, which were supposed to be completed as part of the partnership agreement.
RCA, however, attributes these delays to the global Covid-19 pandemic, which caused significant disruptions in the importation of necessary construction materials.
Nice’s decision to halt financial support to RCA in June 2023 has further strained relations between the two clubs.
RCA has expressed frustration over what it perceives as a premature decision by Nice to cease payments before the completion of an audit into the management of funds by the Ivorian club.
Nice, on the other hand, has implied that its decision was influenced by concerns over the quality of players being developed by RCA, as well as alleged “dubious practices” in the management of the partnership.
As the dispute continues to unfold, both clubs are awaiting FIFA’s ruling on the matter.
The outcome of this case could have significant implications for future partnerships between European and African football clubs, particularly in terms of financial transparency and contractual obligations.
For now, the football world watches closely as RC Abidjan and OGC Nice navigate this contentious separation, with the potential for further legal battles looming on the horizon.
Conflit entre le Gym et le RAC Abidjan. Le club 🇨🇮 a dénoncé devant la FIFA la décision de l’OGC Nice de mettre fin l’an dernier au partenariat entre les deux clubs.
Il a déjà obtenu gain de cause concernant un intéressement que le club azuréen – qui a fait appel – était censé…— Emery Taisne (@EmeryTaisne) August 10, 2024
