NFF in Chaos As FIFA Orders Football Body to Pay Outstanding Salaries to Rohr Over ‘Breach of Contract’

NFF in Chaos As FIFA Orders Football Body to Pay Outstanding Salaries to Rohr Over ‘Breach of Contract’

Babajide Orevba
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:01 PM
  • FIFA has reportedly ordered the Nigeria Football Federation to pay the sum of $1,045,000 to former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr
  • Rohr was fired shortly before the commencement of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations as he was replaced with Augustine Eguavoen
  • Rohr dragged the Nigerian football authorities to FIFA and the world’s football governing has reportedly given its verdict

The Nigeria Football Federation has been ordered to pay the sum of $1,045,000 (about N 433,873,550.00) to German coach Gernot Rohr with immediate effect.

Rohr was sacked by the Nigerian football house on the eve of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations and he left the country unceremoniously.

A close associate of the Franco-German tactician disclosed that FIFA stated that Nigeria had no justifiable claim to fire the coach in December, The Nation reports.

Gernot Rohr, Amaju Pinnick, AFCON, NFF
Gernot Rohr must be compensated by the Nigeria Football Federation according to FIFA. Photo: Gregor Fischer
Source: Getty Images

Daily Post earlier reported that Gernot Rohr had dragged the NFF to the world governing body, FIFA, over allegations of a breach of contract.

The former Bayern Munich defender had been in charge of the Super Eagles for 5 years before he was sacked by the NFF following a series of poor performances in the World Cup qualifiers.

He was replaced by Augustine Eguavoen in December 2021, with the former Nigeria defender leading the Super Eagles to the second round of the AFCON and also failing to qualify Nigeria for the 2022 World Cup.

Rohr had a contract with Nigeria until the end of Qatar 2022, but he was fired in December 2021 and reports that he was owed a $55,000 monthly salary for 19 months aside from other allowances including match bonuses amongst others.

A close associate told The Nation:

“FIFA has ruled on the NFF-Rohr contract dispute case and you can cross-check. FIFA to the best of my knowledge has sanctioned the NFF for ‘breach of contract without just cause’ and they (NFF) must pay all his remaining salaries in US Dollars until the end of his contract in December 2022.
“To the best of my knowledge, NFF has just 40 days to offset accumulated wages.”

The reports however claimed that the NFF is yet to be officially informed of FIFA’s verdict over the contract dispute.

Mali could snap up Rohr as their new coach

Meanwhile, Sports Brief earlier reported that German coach Gernot Rohr has confirmed he is on the list of coaches considered to become the next head coach of Mali’s national team, nicknamed the Eagles.

Following their failure to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Mali dismissed former coach Mohamed Magassouba and are now desperately in need of a replacement ahead of AFCON 2023 qualifiers.

Mali are in Group G alongside Congo, the Gambia and South Sudan and the Malian football federation (Fémafoot) believe they are in a very tricky, hence the need to appoint a new coach.

Authors
Babajide Orevba photo
Babajide Orevba
Babajide Orevba is a CAF accredited Nigerian journalist and HOD of the Local Desk with over 10 years of experience in media landscape.He studied NCE Political Science/Social Studies, AOCOED.
Tags
Gernot RohrNigeriaWorld