Minister stops NFF from ‘illegal’ sale of players

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been barred from selling players of the national U-23 team to clubs in Europe and outside the country without an appropriate developmental framework.
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Selcap Dalung, gave the directive on Tuesday in Abuja after receiving reports that illegal transactions of players took place regularly at the NFF.
He warned that International transfer certificates should not be issued without serving the interest of the player.
Dalung said that it was unfortunate that young players who had brought glory to the country after winning the African U-23 championship in Senegal and the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile were being sold out to clubs without the players understanding of the contract they were being made to sign.
“It has come to my knowledge that these young players, who are the source of our pride in world football, are currently being subjected to harassment and manipulation of signing for clubs without them even understanding the content of the contract. Therefore, I have directed the NFF which has the authority to grant licences of these players, to refrain from endorsing any of these slavery transactions without a clear framework that follows the due process required for such contracts.”
The Minister further stated that as custodians of sports in the country, the Ministry of Youth and Sports will not close its eyes to slavery contracts of players without their consent.
“It will amount to moral suicide if we sit and watch the future of these young players not only being traded but also negotiated in the interest and benefit of some selfish agents and football officials. Any of such purported transactions that violate not only laid down procedures but players rights to choose will not be recognised”, said Dalung.
The Minister urged agents and players who intend to play elsewhere to get appropriate clearance of which the Sports Ministry will be part of the process.
The President of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick has since been communicated on the development.