Panaji: The player status committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has given the go ahead to four Hyderabad FC players to terminate their existing contracts and join elsewhere before the transfer window ends on January 31.
Chinglensana Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Hitesh Sharma and Nim Dorjee had all served notices to the club and complained to the player status committee about unpaid salaries for multiple months. The four domestic players had told Hyderabad that they would be free to terminate their contracts on a just cause if their salaries were not cleared within 15 days.
A player can terminate the contract with just cause and immediate effect by written notice if the club has unlawfully failed to pay the player the concerned fee amount for at least two months on their due dates, provided that the player has served the club a notice in writing and has granted a deadline of at least 15 days for the club to fully comply with its financial obligations.
The AIFF player status committee had a meeting on Monday and decided to issue temporary no objection certificates (NOCs) to the players so that they can complete the transfer formalities before the window ends on the last day of this month.
The committee took a decision to give them the NOCs so that their career is not affected, a senior official told TOI. It’s clear that Hyderabad did not make the monthly payments. Even during the hearing, they only appeared to be buying more time. The committee has ruled in favor of the players.
According to sources, Hyderabad did not have any of their club official at the hearing. A legal representative told the panel that the AIFF notice was served only last night at 11pm and the club did not have enough time to respond adequately.
The PSC decision comes on a day when Hyderabad were left with just one foreign player. From among the two remaining international players, Finnish midfielder Petteri Pennanen announced that he has legally terminated his contract due to outstanding salaries.
The last few months have been mentally very difficult and there has been a lot of sleepless nights, but I am really grateful that I have an amazing family and friends supporting. Without them, I don’t know if I would have had the strength to push through everything, said Pennanen.
Captain Joao Victor is now the only foreign player at the club with all others quitting due to disputes over unpaid salaries.
The club is currently serving a transfer ban so cannot register new players till previous dues are cleared.
