UPDATE: FIFA lift Richards Bay transfer ban

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The organisation restricted the DStv Premiership side from registering players after they breached their contract agreement with Kenyan international Ovella Ochieng, who had only featured in two matches for the club.

According to FIFA’s own internal investigation at the time, The Natal Rich Boyz mutually terminated the player’s employment contract, but failed to settle monies owed as per the two parties’ settlement terms.

Richards Bay chairman and owner Jomo Biyela last week described the ban as a “misunderstanding” and committed to paying the R230 000 due to Ochieng, so that the ban could be scrapped.

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The public broadcaster has now seen communication from Zurich, informing the KwaZulu-Natal outfit that the sanction will be lifted ahead of the 1 July transfer window.

“We take note that the creditor, Mr Ovella Ochieng, has received the amounts due by the respondent Richards Bay, in accordance with the decision passed by FIFA,” the letter to the Premiership club read.

“As a consequence, we inform you that the present proceedings against the respondent, Richards Bay, are hereby closed and its ban to register any new players has been lifted, and as such the South African Football Association is hereby requested to immediately lift the ban imposed on the respondent.”

Biyela also added that the club had already started the process of recruiting players as they build up to the upcoming 2024/25 season, having only just managed to survive relegation when they won the PSL play-offs.