Macarthur FC of Australia has been handed down a severe punishment, with the club banned from signing new players until they settle a debt with former football legend Dwight Yorke. This news comes as Football Australia confirmed yesterday that FIFA has imposed the sanction on the Sydney-based club, which they are required to enforce as part of their governing obligations.
The ban on new player signings comes as a result of a long-standing dispute between Macarthur FC and Dwight Yorke, the former Manchester United striker who was awarded damages after his dismissal as coach last year. Yorke, who played for a number of top-tier clubs during his professional career including Manchester United and Aston Villa, had been at the helm of Macarthur FC prior to his dismissal in 2022.
The dispute between Yorke and the club had been ongoing for some time, with the former striker seeking compensation for his termination. The matter was eventually taken to court, where Yorke was successful in his bid for damages. However, Macarthur FC has thus far failed to pay the award, leading FIFA to step in and impose the player signing ban.
The ban will undoubtedly cause difficulties for Macarthur FC, who will be unable to bolster their squad with new signings until the debt to Yorke has been settled. This could potentially impact the club's performance on the pitch, as they will be unable to replace injured or departing players, or bring in fresh talent to boost their chances of success.
Macarthur FC has been given no indication of how long the ban will be in place, with the club required to settle the debt to Yorke before the sanction is lifted. It remains to be seen how the club will respond to the ban and the ongoing dispute with the former coach, and what steps they will take to resolve the matter and put the episode behind them.